Arrests as hundreds flood crimebusters hotline

Lord Michael Ashcroft. Photo / Dean Purcell

Response to a new crimebusting hotline has "exceeded expectations", with hundreds of Kiwis calling to dob in suspected crooks and police making arrests.

Crimestoppers, a charity backed by billionaire businessman Lord Michael Ashcroft, has fielded 631 calls since launching a month ago.

Almost 80 per cent of calls were from the North Island, with half from Auckland.

Chief executive Lou Gardiner said 243 were "actionable", meaning there was enough quality information to give to police.

"New Zealanders look like they understand the concept, but obviously we have lots more to do," he said.

The service is an extension of a UK intiative that has been running for 20 years and is credited with solving one in five murders in London.

It gives people the chance to give information anonymously and was launched with the backing of New Zealand police.

The official number of arrests made as a result of Crimestoppers was unavailable.

But police in Auckland's eastern suburbs are executing at least one search warrant a week based on tips from the hotline.

Howick Sergeant Tony Curry said the best result concerned a high-tech cannabis-growing operation in Maraetai.

Five flatmates were charged with cultivating cannabis, possession of cannabis for supply and possession of cannabis and utensils after police searched their home and found 88 plants.

"One was a builder and another was an electrician so it was quite technical, quite professional," Curry said.

He said the operation would not have been uncovered without information from Crimestoppers.

"It was a rural property, well off the beaten track, it took quite a bit to find actually. These boys had no major criminal history and there was no reason for us to go there and sniff around. "Since that job we've had other jobs. We're executing a search warrant a week all due to Crimestoppers information."

Gardiner said the most commonly reported tips related to the manufacture, supply and distribution of drugs.

Police Minister Judith Collins was delighted New Zealanders were "taking full advantage" of the service.

She said it was "already exceeding expectations" and hoped the information helped police solve crime faster. The charity is staffed by volunteers and funded through sponsorship and donations.

* To report information to Crimestoppers, phone 0800-555-111 or visit www.crimestoppers-nz.org.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY