By Justin Davenport

Crime Editor

 

More than 2.000 Londoners have called an anonymous crimefighting hotline with information about last year’s riots, it was revealed today.

The charity Crimestoppers said the number of calls it received rose by 54 per cent last year to 10.223. Much of the increase was due to a surge in the number of people calling about the disorder or naming suspects wanted for the rioting.

A total of 4.354 people have been arrested in connection with the four days of rioting in London sparked by the police shooting of Mark Duggan in Tottenham last august. Regan Hook, Crimestoppers’: the increase in calls is certainly in part as a result of the disorder but we think it also shows an increase in trust and confidence in Crimestoppers.

“We have sent more than 2.000 pieces of information regarding the tinuing.”” Her comments came as the Met released more images of riot suspects which are now on the charity’s Most Wanted website.

Ms Hook said that the height of the disorder on August 9 last year, when the riots threatened to spiral out of control, the number of calls to Crimestoppers trebled.

She said the charity’s call handlers did not ask questions about why people rang in with information.

“The service is totally anonymous, we do not ask why they call or why the are giving information.

“We never ask for anyone’s name or address and no one is asked to go to court or make any statement to the police,” she added.

Last week a man was jailed for six and half years for his part in the disturbances – one of the longest prison terms so far.

Stephen prince, 23 years, was found guilty of burglary, arson, robbery, violent disorder and common assault during the disorder in Hackney on August 8  last year.

A total of 2.724 people have been charged in connection with the disturbances in London, 715 of them juveniles. A total of 1.829 people have been sentenced.

 

(extract from “London Evening Standar, Friday 15 june 2012)