Crime Stoppers Receives $450,000 Investment From The Provincial Government

Saturday, 25 January 2020 08:13

The investment will be over a two-year period to keep the Crime Stoppers tip line operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

ONTARIO - The provincial government is investing $450,000 into the Crime Stoppers toll-free number.

The investment will be over a two-year period to ensure the telephone tip line can continue to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Parliamentary Assistant to Solicitor General Sylvia Jones, Christine Hogarth says they intend to keep supporting community partners like Crime Stoppers.

"For decades, Crime Stoppers has played an important role in making sure anyone can share information about criminal activity with the police at any time, on any day. Public safety is our priority. Our government will continue providing our community safety partners, like Crime Stoppers, with the supports they need to help us keep Ontario communities safe."

Crime Stoppers is a partnership between the public, police and media, providing the community with a method for anonymously providing tips to assist in preventing and solving crimes.

January is recognized across Canada as Crime Stoppers Awareness Month.

York Regional Police Chief Eric Jolliffe says the program offers value to everyone across the province.

"Having a province-wide program that allows citizens to report crime anonymously is invaluable to police services and communities right across Ontario. The funding support provided by the Province of Ontario is appreciated and will assist in making all Crime Stoppers programs more accessible to citizens."

There are 39 Crime Stoppers programs throughout Ontario, linked by a toll-free telephone number (1-800-222-TIPS) which works anywhere in North America.

Past President of the Ontario Association of Crime Stoppers David Forster says this type of funding is important to the program.

"The financial support provided by the province is critical to Crime Stoppers programs across Ontario. The ability to contract services to allow for 24/7 monitoring of phone and web tips ensures that the public has the ability to report information on criminal activity at any time."

Minister Jones says working together as a community makes everything safer.

"Everyone has a role when it comes to community safety. Sharing tips with the police through Crime Stoppers is just one way individuals can help keep our communities safe. Our society is at its best when we work together and collaborate, so everyone should do their part."