Province Beefs Up CrimeStoppers to Battle Gangs

By 250 News

As the latest step in B.C.'s war on gangs, the Province is providing Crime Stoppers with $250,000 to beef up its tip-handling capability and encourage more tips about gang crimes.

"Crime Stoppers is widely recognized as a portal for people who want to remain anonymous while providing important information to the police,"says Premier Campbell. "It's more critical and urgent than ever to
ensure people understand this option, that the rewards are there to encourage people to do the right thing, and that the police have the resources to follow up every tip."

Highlights of the Province's partnership with Crime Stoppers:
* A new marketing and communication campaign to encourage citizens to call Crime Stoppers and provide anonymous tips on criminal gang activities. The key message is: 'You remain anonymous, criminals don't.'
* To ensure effective handling of tips, Crime Stoppers' tip handlers will receive enhanced training from gang experts on what constitutes gang crime and activity.
* Rewards of up to $2,000 for criminal gang tips that lead to an arrest and charge.
* A new provincewide anonymous text-tip program to encourage increased reporting from young people.

Crime Stoppers will streamline the flow of tips so that the Integrated Gang Task Force (IGTF) receives all gang-related tips directly. The IGTF investigates, disrupts and dismantles organized crime.

"Enhancing Crimestoppers' capacity to handle gang-related tips and actively promoting this initiative is a major component of our overall strategy to end gang and gun violence," said Gary Bass, deputy
commissioner, RCMP Pacific Region. "We all have a role to play to combat gang crime. Encouraging the public to help us with anonymous information helps our investigators and makes it easy for people to do
the right thing."

"When the Premier announced a gang hotline and rewards program in February, we saw an opportunity to partner with the Province and grow Crime Stoppers to take that leading role in securing gang-related
tips," said Al Sismey, president, B.C. Crime Stoppers advisory board. "We believe the new resources and strengthened relationship with integrated, gang-focused police teams will build Crime Stoppers'
effectiveness in protecting public safety."

The provincewide marketing campaign will encourage the public to call Crime Stoppers to provide anonymous tips related to gang crime. The high-profile campaign will build on Crime Stoppers 'You Remain
Anonymous, Criminals Don't' to remind tipsters that they need not fear reprisals. The campaign will also educate the public on what constitutes a gang crime.

In addition the Province is targeting an additional $1 million in  federal funding through the Police Officer Recruitment Fund (PORF) to a broader youth gang prevention and education strategy.  Crime Stoppers tipsters can provide tips in their preferred language, by calling toll-free 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or at www.bccrimestoppers.com online. The non-profit society does not identify tipsters, use call display, record callers' personal
information or require tipsters to testify in court.

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