Anonymous tip line to aid cops

Commissioner Howard Broad and Lord Michael Ashcroft at the launch of Crimestoppers NZ yesterday. Photo / Dean Purcell

Police say a new anonymous tip line will lead to more crime being reported and more criminals being arrested.

The Crimestoppers phoneline service will help police and other law enforcement agencies, Police Commissioner Howard Broad says. It is independent of government, police and other law enforcement agencies.

"Information flow is the lifeblood of policing and experience in the United Kingdom has shown Crimestoppers is very successful in helping police to identify both crimes and criminals," Mr Broad said.

"The Crimestoppers' guarantee of anonymity provides a way for people to feel safe about passing on what they know, so we're likely to receive information of a type we haven't had before and from people who would not normally come forward."

Mr Broad encouraged people who were willing to be identified to continue to approach police directly.

"Crimestoppers does not detract from the general public duty to help police by giving information directly as informants or witnesses and we have a long and successful history of the public coming forward to do that."

People can now call 0800 555-111 or submit an encrypted on-line form via crimestoppers-nz.org.

Police Minister Judith Collins and Lord Michael Ashcroft attended the launch of the initiative in Manukau.

Lord Ashcroft established a Crimestoppers line in Britain in 1998 that has resulted in more than 80,000 arrests. In some cases the website has paid rewards.

In 2007, the Briton's $200,000 reward led to the return of 96 war medals stolen from Waiouru Army Museum.

- NZPA