Tip-off line launched tomorrow

The British peer whose reward helped return stolen medals to public hands is launching a crimebusting telephone service - and he has dipped into his own pockets to help fund it.

Lord Michael Ashcroft is in New Zealand to launch a Kiwi version of his Crimestoppers tip-off service at Manukau's TelstraClear Events Centre tomorrow afternoon.

Ashcroft gained public attention last year when he paid out over $200,000 to facilitate the return of nine Victoria Cross medals stolen from Waiouru Army Museum.

He will be joined at the opening by Police Minister Judith Collins and Police Commissioner Howard Broad.

London's Metropolitan police reported Crimestoppers calls helped solve one in five crimes last year.

Retired Major-General Louis Gardiner will head Crimestoppers, and he said the service was financially and operationally independent of police.

Funding had come from corporate sources, he said, and donations from the public would be sought. Gardiner added that Ashcroft himself had stumped up some cash.

Gardiner said Crimestoppers would initially be managed from a call centre in the United Kingdom, but a New Zealand office was being organised.