Leicestershire: People Zones encourage communities to give crime information anonymously

Working with Leicestershire People Zones, Crimestoppers is appealing for communities to unite in taking a stand against crime by speaking up anonymously.

People Zones is funded by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (OPCC).

Part of this backing includes the People Zone Grant Fund to which Crimestoppers recently submitted a successful bid. This awarded our charity just over £9,000 to target key crime hotspots within the Bell Foundry area of Loughborough, New Parks in the West of Leicester and Thringstone & Whitwick within North-West Leicestershire.

Crimestoppers, working with the OPCC, is promoting our vital service in the People Zones. Our charity guarantees 100% anonymity when taking crime information, which can be done in over 140 different languages. For those who call our charity, if required, a translator can be on the other end of the line within a couple of minutes.

Some of the crime that Crimestoppers is encouraging people to report are:

Dealing of drugs and associated activity
Illegal off road motorbiking
Domestic abuse.

tap or click here to give information about crime, here on our website

Drug crime

Drugs tear a community apart. Drug use and dealing of drugs often involves many other crime types and causes distress for family and friends of those involved.

Users and those selling/supplying drugs can be charged with drugs possession. Whilst many drug dealers are clear-cut criminals, sometimes vulnerable people can get caught up, becoming unwitting enablers.

Drug trafficking is a major source of revenue for organised crime groups, many of which are involved in other forms of serious crime. Activity which disrupts drug trafficking therefore has a much wider impact on organised criminal activity.

Most of the calls we receive are in one way or another are related to the production, distribution, sale and supply of drugs.

Some of the signs that drug dealing might be taking place in your community can include:

A change in someone's mood/demeanour (e.g. secretive/withdrawn/ aggressive/emotional).
A resident or local person suddenly having unexplained, sometimes unaffordable, new clothes, jewellery, phones, cars etc.
An increase in visitors and cars, scooters or bikes to a house or flat, or new faces appearing.
Sometimes criminals take over a home or short-term let as a drugs base - this is known as cuckooing.
New and regularly changing residents, maybe with non-local accents.
Curtains often closed all the time and an increase in rubbish/drug paraphernalia.
Residents or young people going missing, maybe for long periods of time.
Young people seeming unfamiliar or uncomfortable with your community or where they are.

The National Crime Agency advice is that you trust your instincts. Even if someone isn't involved in drug dealing, they might be being exploited in some other way, so it's always worth speaking out.

Anti-social motorbike use

Anti-social motorbike use is a danger to both the rider and the public. There have been incidents of off-road bikes being ridden illegally on roads, parks, pavements and in other public spaces, which results in injuries to the rider and members of the public and also causes thousands of pounds worth of damage to parks, fields, green spaces and private property.

Crimestoppers is asking the community to report the following information about the bikes and the riders:

Registration number.
Make and model.
Descriptions.
Storage locations.
Addresses.
Distinguishing features and clothing of those involved.

Domestic abuse

As a bystander, family member, colleague or friend you may feel helpless when you know someone is a victim of domestic abuse. Whilst ultimately the victim will need to make the decision to leave the relationship themselves, we encourage you to report your suspicions. We will then pass on information to the relevant police force who, with partners, may be able to intervene away from the abuser to check the potential victim is OK.

Domestic abuse warning signs include:

Their partner puts them down in front of other people.
They are constantly worried about making their partner angry.
They make excuses for their partner’s behaviour.
Their partner is extremely jealous or possessive.
They have unexplained marks or injuries.
They’ve stopped spending time with friends and family.
They are depressed or anxious, or you notice changes in their personality.

You may be a neighbour who may have seen or heard:

Threatening and intimidating arguments, which may involve violent language or escalate to smashing up the furniture.
Arguments where the partner blames the other for their actions, saying they are “asking for it” or deserve the abuse.
Individuals with bruising or other visible marks, which may have been caused by physical abuse.

“Some people have information about crime but feel they don’t have anywhere or anyone to turn to. Please remember that the charity Crimestoppers and our Fearless service for young people are here to help. We don't judge or take any personal details from those who contact us. All we want is the information you have. You will remain 100% anonymous. Always.”

Lydia Patsalides, Crimestoppers East Midlands Regional Manager

“It is so important that people report crime. It highlights where trouble spots are and provides information about criminals, which means the police can take action. Local residents have more local information than anyone, they literally are the police’s eyes and ears on the street, but I understand that reporting crime anonymously can be more attractive to some.
“That’s why I’m so pleased to fund this campaign, which is part of my ongoing campaign to prevent crime. Crimestoppers is a trusted and well-known organisation. People know that if they want to report crime and remain anonymous, they can. I think this will increase reporting, which in turn will help the police to make more arrests. Which in turn means more criminals receive a punishment for their crimes. That’s what people want to see and that’s what I’m delivering.”

Rupert Matthews, Leicestershire Police and Crime Commissioner

By calling our 0800 555 111 number at any time or by completing a secure online form here on our website or via Fearless.org for young people, information on crime in Leicester can be given at any time of the day.

Fearless also offers young people non-judgemental advice so that informed decisions about lifestyle choices can be made.