REGINA — Regina Crime Stoppers celebrated its 30th anniversary Monday and also released last year’s statistics report, showing that tips were up this year while arrests and cases cleared were down.
“What’s important is to, once again, look at the cumulative success of it over 30 years,” said Regina Police Chief Troy Hagen, adding that the stats vary every year.
Drugs seized because of the program went up substantially to $31,004 from $7,400 last year while property recovered went down about 50 per cent.
“I thought we had an awesome year,” said Regina Crime Stoppers president Laurie Norman, saying that the SpeakOut Regina forum in April, 2013, was particularly successful.
About 100 high school students brought up their own concerns during the forum, and had a question-and-answer period with Crime Stoppers. Hagen credits this as a way of connecting with the community.
“We’re seeing Crime Stoppers becoming much more, I think, proactive in a lot of ways. Rather than just waiting to receive tips,” he said.
Crime Stoppers has started exploring using social media to get information, but there are concerns about maintaining tippers’ anonymity — a staple of the program.
“We do realize that the youth is the next generation and, especially today, with new media and social media and that kind of thing, and the way that kids communicate, information can be gathered instantly,” said Norman.
The future of the program will include Regina Crime Stoppers street signs appearing in high traffic areas next month.
As for what Norman wants to see in the future: “In my perfect world there would be no more crime whatsoever and there would be no reason for Regina Crime Stoppers to even be here.”
The 1984-2014 stats paint a better picture, with over 16,000 tips and 2,088 arrests made.
The Crime Stoppers program can be found in 28 countries, which has resulted in more than 1,000,000 arrests.
2013 statistics
Tips received: 773
Arrests made: 18
Cases cleared: 10
Rewards awarded: $5,140
Property recovered: $12,718
Drugs seized: $31,004
2012 statistics
Tips received: 765
Arrests made: 30
Cases cleared: 37
Rewards awarded $6,665
Property recovered: $24,240
Drugs seized: $7,400
1984-2014 statistics
Tips received: 16,306
Arrests made: 2,088
Cases cleared: 3,745
Rewards awarded $211,935
Property recovered: $3,738,903
Drugs seized: $6,419,168
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