PROFILE

High School Students Interact With Newfoundland Crime Stoppers
By: Dawn B., Roncalli Central High, Port Saunders, NF

Video: Crime Stoppers

"Hello, this is Kayla Smith, I would like to report a crime in my area.”

This year alone in Newfoundland there have been 70 cases solved by Crime Stoppers and there have been 121 charges laid as a result of calls from concerned citizens. Crime Stoppers is a community-based program that brings the public, the media and the police together in cooperative effort to help solve crime.

Newfoundland and Labrador Crime Stoppers is a non-profit organization and is funded entirely by tax deductible donations from private and corporate sectors. The tipster can earn anywhere from $50.00 to $2000.00 in the event that their call leads to an arrest of or laying of charges against criminal offenders.

Crime Stoppers representatives from Newfoundland travel to schools up and down the coast. They give an approximately one hour presentation on what it is exactly Crime Stoppers do and how youth can assist them. Jennifer Frost, a Roncalli High student stated, “ The presentation was very educational. I was informed of how I could assist police and my community. It was good to know that all the calls they receive are completely anonymous. Students now know we can play a role in promoting a positive environment in our schools.”

The St. John's Maple Leafs are partnering with Newfoundland and Labrador Crime Stoppers to further the implementation of the Crime Stoppers High School Program. The High School Program is a modified version of the Crime Stoppers Program. A provincial police coordinator for the RCMP with Crime Stoppers, Jim Hare stated, “Getting an education nowdays has many distractions and frustrations. In an effort to assist students with these concerns Crime Stoppers felt it would be a benefit to schools and students to start a Crime Stoppers High School program province wide. Crime Stoppers feel by giving students the opportunity to report illegal activity in schools these frustrations will lessen as they obtain their education. The Newfoundland and Labrador High School Crime Stoppers program is in over 40 schools and has been a successful program.”

You might not have been a victim of crime but you almost certainly have been affected by it. The cost of crime on an individual and on society is high. Be it burglary, car theft, or assault - we all have to pay. Insurance premiums, replacements of lost items, emotional and physical pains are just some of these costs.

It is important to have programs such as Crime Stoppers to turn to. This program allows individuals in the community to assist the local RCMP in crime. Crime is a community concern, and crime stoppers allow people to help anonymously. There are a number of crimes in schools, communities and provinces in which people know of the offender but are too scared to go to the police. By taking what they know to Crime Stoppers it is impossible for the tipster to be found out and they will never have to testify in court. The Crime Stoppers program works.

Crime doesn’t pay off, Crime Stoppers does. Make your community a safer place. If you know of a crime in your area be sure to call: 1 800 363 TIPS.