Pictured at the launch of Crimestoppers' 2014 Annual Report are Finbarr Garland, Customer Safety Liaison, Done Deal with Derek Byrne, Assistant Commissioner ( National Support Services) An Garda Siochana. Picture Colm Mahady / Fennells - Copyright 2015 Fennell Photography

Major leinster drugs hauls thanks to crimestoppers line

A large number of criminal activities including incidents of attempted murder, drug dealing and cybercrime were successfully tackled during 2014 with information provided by calls to the confidential Crimestoppers service. In Leinster, drugs including heroin, cocaine and cannabis herb with a combined street value of over €25,000 were seized and arrests were made.

According to a new Crimestoppers report, the service received an average of 138 calls every month during 2014. The most common calls requiring action include drug dealing, sexual offences, cybercrime and road traffic offences.

The Crimestoppers’ freephone number 1800 250025 provides a confidential means for every citizen to report crime, without fear of recrimination and is open from 9am until 9pm daily. Calls are answered by trained Gardaí and are dealt with in the strictest of confidence. Callers do not need to leave their name or address.

Over 1,600 calls were made to Crimestoppers during 2014. A number of significant arrests and seizures arose as a result of these calls. Many of the successes were drugs related:

In Munster and Connacht, cannabis was seized and arrests were made

Other important successes included:

Evidence from an attempted murder was recovered, allowing vital forensic evidence to be securedA man was arrested for internet based sexual offencesIllegal immigrants were identifiedA viable firearm was seized A two high-powered cars were recovered from a car-ringing gangArrests were made for fraudulent selling of electronic goodsThe arrest of an individual wanted on an outstanding warrant and road traffic offences

A Crimestoppers spokesperson said: “During 2014 callers to Crimestoppers provided very valuable information that led to a large number of serious crimes being tackled and criminals apprehended. Throughout Ireland, the confidential Crimestoppers Freephone number is being used by people who have important information that can be used discretely by Garda to address criminal activity in their area.”

“Callers to Crimestoppers can rest assured that the information they provide will be dealt with in the strictest of confidence. I would encourage anyone with information they feel would be useful to Gardai to call the Freephone number. Their call can make a real difference to tackling crime and criminals operating in their locality.”