Crime Stoppers SA releases 2021 results

Posted on 08/02/2022

More than 7,000 additional calls to the Crime Stoppers hotline were received during 2021 compared to the previous year, as people stepped up to do their bit for a safer community by sharing what they know about unsolved crime and illegal activities in South Australia.

The 12-month period saw a total of 27,429 calls made to Crime Stoppers as well as 5,102 tips submitted through the website with information about a range of crimes.

Crime Stoppers South Australia CEO, Mr Nigel Smart, said 660 contacts to the independent not-for-profit were about firearms, 224 contacts for murder investigations and cold cases, and 886 for a range of serious offences against the person such as assault.

“Despite the ongoing challenges of covid in the community, people have clearly remained concerned about what is happening in their neighbourhood, which is why it was great to see 40 firearms taken out of the hands of criminals and three clandestine drug labs located and shut down by police thanks to information provided to Crime Stoppers,” Mr Smart said.

“The impact of drugs remained a concern for people during the year, with more than 1500 contacts providing information about illicit drug manufacturing and sale. Those tips led to police stopping an estimated 30,390 cannabis street deals and 2,561 street deals of amphetamine and location of a large commercial cannabis crop in rural SA,” he said.

Other highlights for the year included:

• Nine News Adelaide committing to a 3-year extension as media partner, marking more than a decade of support to the award-winning crime solving organisation.
• Former Adelaide Football Club Chief Operating Officer, Nigel Smart, announced as the new CEO for Crime Stoppers South Australia, following an extensive national and international recruitment process.
• Promotion of a Cybercrime and the Law teaching pack as the latest addition to a free online teachers’ resource suite of Civics and Citizenship themes developed by Crime Stoppers, and sponsoring the photobooth at Schoolies Festival as part of a broader focus on youth engagement.
• Targeted campaigns across metro and regional SA to address a range of localised crime issues such as car and property theft.
• Celebrating 25-years of Crime Stoppers in South Australia, as well as marking 35,000 crimes solved since the program began in 1996.
• Engaging with regional communities to build a comprehensive regional strategy and tailored campaigns designed to tackle local issues of concern.
• Supporting a range of SA Police matters, including the Task Force Southern investigation into the murders of Robert Atkins, Trevor King and Jeff Mundy.

Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Vincent Tarzia, said the cooperation between SAPOL and Crime Stoppers SA is one reason why Adelaide was recognised as the most liveable city in the country – and third overall in the world.

“Once again these results speak for themselves,” Minister Tarzia said.

“Crime Stoppers SA has a huge impact on criminal activity and is responsible for taking deadly weapons and drugs out of the hands of criminals and off our streets.

“We are so proud to see our historic funding of more than $800,000 help this incredible organisation continue to serve South Australians.”

More detailed 2021 results can be found here.

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