Often people ask us what we do with the information after they have called us or submitted an Anonymous Online Form. As an independent charity, we are not part of the police and simply act as a route for members of the public to speak out about issues that affect their communities. Here we answer some of the common questions people ask us about the process of giving information to Crimestoppers.

What happens after I give Crimestoppers information?

After receiving your call or a completed Anonymous Online Form, we create a report that brings together all the information you told us, making sure that it doesn’t contain any information that could identify you. Where inaccurate information is passed with malicious intent, we will work with law enforcement officers to help them try to identify the source.

Who is my report sent to?

Your report is sent to the relevant authority with the legal responsibility to investigate crimes, make arrests and charge people in order to bring them to justice. This could be your local police force or an agency such as the FIA .

How long does it take before action is taken on my information?

When your report is given to law enforcement, the police need to:

  • thoroughly research the information you have given in order to act on it,
  • make sure that information is accurate and not given with the intention of ‘setting someone up’, and
  • have other intelligence that supports the information received from Crimestoppers.

The police cannot get a search warrant or make an arrest based solely on anonymous information. The research they do on information from Crimestoppers means they can use it with confidence.

Once the information has been researched, the police will allocate this to an appropriate officer or team to deal with. This could mean more research or action may be taken.

Why did nothing happen after I contacted Crimestoppers?

We can’t influence how long it can take for the police to act on information you have given. There could be many reasons for the process taking time:

  • the information may be crucial to a larger investigation where action may take place later on,
  • the information may remain on file which helps to solve crime at a later date, or
  • more information may be required before action can be taken.

So even if you don’t see a quick resolution, don’t think your information hasn’t been of use.