by Deborah Browne Wills
Crime Stoppers Antigua was presented with its first vehicle at Police Headquarters.
The van with appropriate logo will be used to advertise Crime Stoppers and the 800 TIPS (8477) number to all the communities in Antigua and Barbuda.
“What we are trying to do is let the general public know (about us), as they are the ones who take the lead in all of this.” Crime Stoppers co-ordinator Sergeant Lawrence Clarke told the Antigua Sun.
Clarke informed that the go-ahead has been granted by the Ministry of Education to commence a Crime Stoppers awareness schools programme in January.
The van will help Clarke who will be targeting schools, youth groups and churches.
“What I am trying to do is to get young people to understand that we are part of a community and what goes on round the community affects all of us.
"So if there is a little group in the community that is making it bad for everybody, they should not condone it but speak out against it.
"One of the ways that they can speak out is by calling Crime Stoppers and we in turn can pass the information to another relevant agency.”
The Antigua Crime Stoppers initiative was set up to tackle growing crime in Antigua and Barbuda.
Part of the international Crime Stoppers organisation, the charitable organisation allows individuals to assist police in criminal investigations by offering tips and crime information anonymously.
Crime Stoppers board member and logo designer Rob Breadner spoke to the SUN about awareness of the initiative among members of the public.
“I think that people are starting to notice it. One of the things that we really want to do is make Crime Stoppers more than calling in with tips. We have to let people know that we want to involve them.”
Billboards and bumper stickers are in the pipeline.
Breadner feels strongly that the more community-based Crime Stoppers is, the more people will relate to it.
Donated by the government, the van, which was sourced by commissioner of police Tom Bennett will be maintained with the police fleet.
