Crime Stoppers’ Role in Solving Crime
While the crime rate for Belize has generally increased from year to year, with only about a couple weeks left in 2023, the Belize Police Department is anticipating that there would have been a reduction of major crimes when compared to 2022. But while the police efforts play a major part in deterring crime, how it solves these offenses is also important. A key part of that process is the responsibility of Crime Stoppers Belize, which has garnered the confidence of witnesses of crimes to use the service more and more over the twenty years that it has been in existence. But how does the service work? Who can use the Crime Stoppers medium? How confidential is it? And what is its success rate? These are some of the questions that will be answered in this week’s edition of our Five Point Breakdown. Here’s News Five’s Marion Ali.
Marion Ali, Reporting
The murder of Albert Valentine in broad daylight on Tuesday, and that of William Watson, less than two weeks ago, are only two cases for which authorities need the public’s help in solving these crimes. Since its inception in 2003, the Crime Stoppers platform has gained steady popularity among Belizeans, but for those who still have questions about how the service works, here’s how.
What is Crime Stoppers?
Lauren Reardon-Smith
Lauren Reardon-Smith, Founding Member, Crime Stoppers Belize
“Crime Stoppers is an international not-for-profit organization that helps or aids the local law enforcement agencies to solve or prevent crime in the community, and we do that by providing a service to the community where they can submit their information regarding any crimes or criminals through an anonymous service that we have.”
There are two platforms that individuals with information about a crime can use to share that information confidentially. Founding member of Crime Stoppers Belize, Lauren Reardon-Smith says that aside from the tip line, there’s also an app that can be used to safely share crime information.
How does Crime Stoppers Work?
Lauren Reardon-Smith
“The anonymous service has been increased to not just a telephone, which is the 922 line. We still have the 922 line, but now we have the P3 Tips app, which is an internationally designed app that is found either on the Apple or on the Google Play. In the case of calling, it’s an international call center in the U.S., that answers the phone, and, you give as much detail as possible to that call center. Once that call is completed, then that’s sent to our police coordinator here in Belize. The P3 Tip app is an app that you download, and the first thing that you have to do is enter a private password. The private password is your personal, so even if someone grabs your phone, they can’t get into the app because it’s locked with a pass code. And there you enter your details, like where you’re from, whether you’re Belize, El Salvador, wherever you are, wherever the crime took place is where you enter that information. So it’s not limited to Belize, it’s a global crime-preventing app. So you enter your information and it asks you a list of questions, you answer those questions and then you submit it.”
The information that is received is forwarded to the relevant agencies that deal with those offences. Sometimes it can also involve the Customs Department for contraband items and the Immigration Department for illegal entry and human trafficking offenses. And for the information that you share, Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to persons who request it. The only requirement is that the information you share has to result in the arrest and charge of those responsible for the offense reported.
Lauren Reardon-Smith
“We also offer cash rewards for any information that led to an arrest and charge, an arrest and charge. And our cash rewards go from $100 to $2,000 depending on the seriousness of the crime. If the crime results in an arrest because it has enough information that the police can follow up on it, or it gives enough clues, then the case then merits a reward, and then you call back for your information, and then from there you’re given the information of when and how you can receive your reward.”
One of the assurances that using the Crime Stoppers tip line or the app provides to informants is confidentiality. Former Chief Magistrate, Sharon Fraser has been a board member of Crime Stoppers for almost two decades. She says that the organization has helped in situations where witnesses simply don’t trust using the police for whatever reason.
Crime Stoppers and Confidentiality
Sharon Fraser
Sharon Fraser, Board Member, Crime Stoppers Belize
“Once the information comes in, then the police can act upon it without putting anybody’s life in jeopardy. So, it’s really why this is important. Why it must be out there. Why people must use the service because they don’t have to worry that nobody is going to come for them or come for their families. Even the coordinator wouldn’t know because they’re operating based on codes that are given and whatever, so persons aren’t giving their names. I don’t know of any instances where persons have given a tip, and in fact, it has come out who those persons are. The truth is, even though I sit on this, on the board, I don’t even know who are the persons who…”
Marion Ali
Is it even possible, since you’re operating by codes?
Sharon Fraser
“No, it’s not.”
The Success Rate
According to Crime Stoppers Coordinator, Harold Grinage, the statistics show there’s been significant increase in the use of the service.
Harold Grinage
Harold Grinage, Coordinator, Crime Stoppers
“Our yearly statistics as of January 1st, 2022 to December 3rd, 1st, 2022, we received a total of 198 tips. From those, we received four out of five successful tips. We did a total of 162 posters. Our year statistics for 2023 from January 1st, 2023 to December 12th, 2023, a total of 175 tips were received and 37 of those were successful. When the program first started, we had less than 40 tips per year. Since we’ve built a relationship, trust relationship with the community, we’ve been raised to more than 200 tips per year at present.”
Appealing to the Public
Grinage appeals to eyewitnesses to help solve the recent crimes they know about, including the escape of a prisoner.
Harold Grinage
“Of recent, we had an escapee, Hildebrandt Codd, who had escaped from police officers from the Supreme Court. I’d like to ask the general public if you have any information on his whereabouts, you could always call 922, P3 app and give information, also there was a recent murder on Iguana Street, Belize City. Albert Valentine was murdered. If you have any information pertaining to that, you can also call him. And there’s a recent missing person by the name of Jeremy Westby, 18 years old. He’s been missing for almost a week now and his mother and his family members would like some information or some kind of closure.”
If you would like to donate to the efforts of Crime Stoppers, you can call 600 3563 or visit its website at: crimestoppersbelize.org. Reporting for News Five, I’m Marion Ali.
