The internet provides enormous benefits for children and young people. However, it can also expose them to a range of risks, including inappropriate contact, online grooming, and sexual extortion.
NSW Crime Stoppers, in collaboration with Local Land Services and NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI), has developed a campaign to appeal to the community to report the illegal trade of prickly pear cacti.
Prickly pears are fleshy-stemmed cacti with sharp spines or barbs. They all belong to the Austrocylindropuntia, Cylindropuntia and Opuntia genuses or genera of plants. There are over 27 different species in Australia. It’s a crime to sell or swap them in NSW. The campaign will target species that are commonly and illegally traded:
“Draw the line on regional crime” is the central message to the new Regional Crime Campaign being launched today.
In NSW, over 80% of farmers have reported being a victim of crime according to new research by the Centre for Rural Criminology, University of New England. Even more critical is the high levels of repeat victimisation, with over 76% of farmers being a victim of crime on more than two occasions, and over 23% experiencing crime more than seven times*.
Crime Stoppers and the NSW Police Force are launching a state-wide crime campaign today (Monday 5 April 2021) to address awareness of regional crimes, prevention measures and to increase reporting to Crime Stoppers and the police.
Regional crime can affect individual’s finances and safety directly but can also have a more widespread impact on the prosperity of the town and its people. In regional areas, the perception of a community, its safety, its people, and its economic situation can affect tourism, impact on its attraction of high-quality health professionals or teachers and other essential service providers. But it doesn’t stop there. Crimes in regional areas have a flow on effect, impacting pricing, distribution, and availability of produce everywhere.
The campaign will provide information on how regional communities can deter or prevent crime in their area while encouraging everyone to report crime. The message to the NSW community is: Any information on any crime anytime.
The Crime Stoppers contact centre operates 24/7, 365 days a year and all information captured is in complete confidence.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott is urging regional residents to report any piece of information no matter how small to Crime Stoppers and the NSW Police.
“It’s disheartening to hear over 80 per cent of our farmers have reported being victims of criminal activity. Our farmers have had a shocking few years with drought, bush fires, COVID-19 and floods – adding victim of crime to the mix is reprehensible.” Mr Elliott said.
“We’re calling on the NSW community to report any information on any crime anytime. If you know something, say something.”
“We’ve seen firsthand the resilience of our farmers but I draw the line on regional crime.”
CEO, NSW Crime Stoppers, Peter Price AM said “We don’t want to know who you are; we just want to know what you know,”
“Today we are launching a campaign to draw the line on regional crime. Crime Stoppers is calling for a whole of community approach to draw the line on crime and adopt better prevention strategies and be on the lookout for any suspicious behaviour. The result will be a better, more prosperous future and healthier communities that thrive,” added Mr Price.
Crime Stoppers is working with the NSW Police Force Rural Crime Prevention Team and the Police Transport and Public Safety Command across a range of major crime areas including stock theft and marine theft and poaching.
Stock theft, as one example, has a significant financial impact on our farmers. Between 2015 and 2020, there has been a conservative estimated value of $22.5m worth of sheep and cattle reported stolen within NSW. If we consider the value of stud stock, loss of animal by-products and loss of future breeding potential, the financial impact on primary producers within NSW could realistically be over $60m*.
Acting Assistant Commissioner Brett Greentree, Corporate Sponsor for Rural Crime, NSW Police Force says it is important to work together to protect farmers.
“Rural crime has no borders and police across Australia are working together to protect the livelihood of our farmers against offenders who target them,” said Acting Assistant Commissioner Greentree.
“Our farmers have already suffered through drought, bushfires and floods and we will not accept people stealing from them or making them feel vulnerable in their own home. We urge you to call Crime Stoppers or your local police with any information.”
The theft and poaching of oysters and rock lobster, and the illegal harvest and trade of abalone, is having a detrimental effect on the industry, threatening the future of legitimate seafood businesses and retailers. It also affects marine resources, tourism and business and can lead to a higher risk of contamination if not processed in accordance with safe food handling practices.
Assistant Commissioner Peter Cotter APM, Commander of the Police Transport and Public Safety Command said crime in the marine space is also leading to an even greater risk to the wider community.
“In many cases, the fabric and economic stability of a country community is associated with its local marine environment. The waterways are kind to us, they sustain us, and they give us food, but it all must be done legally and with diligence to the environment,” said Assistant Commissioner Cotter.
“Those breaking the law and fishing without legitimacy or licences are committing criminal acts. It is up to all of us – the community, and the police – to work together, report and disrupt this crime, and ensure the future of the waterways and the prosperity and culture of the community.”
The newly launched community awareness campaign will run state-wide for a 12-month period. Crime Stoppers will be visiting regional communities to engage with communities in an effort to help reduce crime and increase reporting.
Crime in regional areas is not new, however it continues to be a growing area of concern for the whole of NSW, not just the farming community and therefore it needs a whole of community approach.
*Source: NSW Farmers Survey, data analysis February 2021, Centre for Rural Criminology, University of New England.’
Crime Stoppers has partnered with BikeVault and Bicycle NSW to help reduce theft and increase the chances of stolen bikes being recovered.
Bike owners now have access to a free community service provided by BikeVault, where bike owners can store their bike’s details. So, in case it’s stolen and recovered, the bike can be tracked and returned to the owner. Combining the forces of industry Crime Stoppers works with the Police, bike owners and the wider community – to expose and defeat the illicit trade in stolen bikes.
Additionally, when buying a used bike, you can check to see if the bike you are buying is stolen property, ie. chain of custody.
With advancements in bike technology and some bikes now worth more cars, bikes are hot property, not just for bike lovers, but for thieves.
Bike sales are sitting at $1.2 million annually and this year has seen the demand surge by 60% compared to last year. Much of this has been brought on by COVID-19 with people wanting to move around in a COVID safe way as well as seeking a safe form of exercise for families. This demand has led to a shortage and put bikes on the radar for thieves to sell in the buoyant used bike market.
In the unfortunate event a bike is stolen, online support can assist owners in finding their bike and increase the odds of its recovery by police. A major part of bike recovery it’s the online community which helps bring awareness to the stolen bikes by having spotters who trawl for and report stolen bikes found for sale online and at less reputable retail premises.
The power of an informed community cannot be overestimated. Prior to the launch of this register, stolen bikes were easy to sell for quick profits with perpetrators having little fear of the stolen bike being identified and them being caught. Removing the pathways to safely sell and profit from stolen property is the ultimate deterrent to profit driven theft.
We want to encourage all bike owners to use this free service for your bike, increase its identification to deter thieves and make it easier to recover. If you are thinking of buying a bike check online before you purchase a bike to ensure it isn’t stolen and please report stolen bikes. With the community working together we can prevent and reduce crime in our community.
Crime Stoppers, BikeVault and Bicycle NSW will be working together on a dedicated campaign to garner a groundswell of community support and action to reduce bike theft.
More information or to enter your bike’s identification details can be found at: https://www.bikevault.com.au
Crime Stoppers worked with NSW Police calling on road users to report drink, drug, dangerous and distracted driving as part of a new road safety campaign.
The campaign is focused on enlisting the community’s help to crack down on the Four Ds to prevent crashes and keep loved ones safe.
280 people have died on NSW roads so far this year (from 1 January 2020 to 26 November 2020), with speed a factor in 28 percent of cases, drugs a factor in 20 percent, 16 percent alcohol-related.
Keeping the public safe is our top priority. We’re asking for you to help us protect yourselves, loved ones and the community on NSW roads. If you see or know anyone who is drink, drug, dangerous or distracted driving, please report it to Crime Stoppers and we will investigate.
Our message to motorists breaking the law is clear: someone is watching you now and you will get caught.
Here are some ways road users can report the Four Ds without jeopardising their own safety or breaking the law:
The CEO of Crime Stoppers NSW Peter Price AM said he hopes the community’s involvement will help improve safety and accountability on NSW roads.
“Never before have we asked the community to report these crimes and Crime Stoppers NSW is the first, not only in Australia, but around the world, to initiate this campaign,” said Crime Stoppers NSW CEO, Peter Price AM, said.
“This is one of the most important campaigns we have ever embarked upon. These traffic issues are an offence and these offences often lead to innocent people being injured or killed which is absolutely devastating for their families,” Mr Price said.
“We are counting on the community’s strong relationship with us to contact Crime Stoppers and make our roads safer for everyone,” he said.
Crime Stoppers worked in partnership with the Local Land Services and the NSW Department of Primary Industries on a dedicated campaign to address the illegal trading of certain plants which are catastrophic to our waterways.
Plants like water hyacinth, frogbit and salvinia are illegal to trade and devastating to our environment. These plants grow at a rapid rate, block waterways, reduce water quality and can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to control. They restrict livestock, birds and other native animals’ access to water, reduce food and shelter for fish and native animals and prevent native water plants from growing.
But it doesn’t stop there. These water plants also put the economy and our community at risk.
Boating, fishing and swimming will be a thing of the past if we don’t stop the growing and trading of plants which cause havoc in our waterways so, we are appealing to the public for help.
Community awareness and action will be crucial in stopping the prohibited trading of these plants. We are asking anyone who sees these plants being sold online to report it to NSW Crime Stoppers.
To make a real difference and protect our waterways, we need a whole of community approach. People are spending time online and this is where most illegal trading of these plants occurs.
If you think you have information about someone in your community who has committed a crime call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 for a confidential conversation, or report securely online at www.crimestoppers.com.au.
A state-wide rural crime campaign has been launched to address the ongoing issues of rural crime in our community which has become a growing area of concern affecting the whole of NSW, not just the farming community. The key crime areas include illegal hunting, stock theft, trespassing and firearm theft.
Our farmers are under siege. Already adversely affected by the drought, rural crime is having a significant and direct effect on the economic welfare of farmers and their families. The campaign developed helps educate regional communities on how they can deter or prevent crime in their area while encouraging the reporting of crime.
To make a real difference, we need a whole of community approach. There are some preventative measures that can be undertaken such as installing cameras, ensuring gates are locked and in the case of firearm theft, ensuring guns are locked and ammunition kept separate to any firearms.
It is also important to report crime as soon as it occurs, whether you are the victim, or you have witnessed a crime. A call to Crime Stoppers or the Police at the earliest opportunity increases the chances of recovering stolen livestock or firearms and catching the people committing these terrible crimes.”
If you think you have information about someone in your community who has committed a crime call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 for a confidential conversation, or report securely online at www.crimestoppers.com.au.
The Domestic & Family Violence campaign is urging the community to call the Police if you see, hear or suspect domestic violence.
Illicit drugs continue to be a serious concern to the community. It not only costs millions of dollars in healthcare and law enforcement but tragically and unnecessarily it costs human lives. Drugs kill.
NSW Police and Crime Stoppers is reaching out to the community to help fight the war on drugs. We know from history that public reports help police intervene in criminal activity and disrupt organised crime gangs who are responsible for the manufacture and supply of these drugs.
There are often some tell-tale signs if a home is being used as a drug house, such as lights on at all hours of the day and night, cars and people arriving at odd times, or large drums and other equipment being disposed of at the property.
If there is anything you have seen or heard that could relate to the import, manufacture, or supply of illicit drugs we need you to report this to Crime Stoppers. It’s what you know that’s of interest to us, not who you are.
If you think you have information about someone in your community who is manufacturing or supplying drugs, call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 for a confidential conversation, or report securely online at www.crimestoppers.com.au.
Crime Stoppers joined forces with the eSafety Commissioner (eSafety) for a Child Protection campaign, to help combat child sexual abuse and unwanted contact, online. The education and awareness campaign focuses on child sexual abuse material and unwanted contact online.
Predators are increasingly gaining access to children online through popular apps, games and social media sites to solicit sexual images or video, or harm them physically.
Research by eSafety has revealed 1 in 4 young people have been contacted by a stranger online. The joint campaign will help parents and carers understand the warning signs of unwanted contact, protect their child’s privacy online, and to report suspicious activity.
Crime Stoppers is asking the community to be vigilant online. If someone suspects or sees something related to online child sexual abuse it should be reported immediately so action can be taken.
Call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 for a confidential conversation, or report securely online at www.crimestoppers.com.au.
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