Here's to a successful decade of fighting crime

As the scheme, which allows the public to give vital information anonymously, celebrates its 10th anniversary in Greater Manchester one of the town's top officers has made a new appeal for help.

Det Ch Insp Paul Buchanan said: "We are working hard to reduce crime in Bolton and a vital ingredient in that fight is information from the public -- so please pick up the phone and let us know what is going on." For the last three years Greater Manchester Crimestoppers has been the most successful in the country.

Last year 11,000 calls led to about 800 arrests. Since the project started in 1990 Crimestoppers calls have led to 4,500 arrests.

Crimestoppers regional manager Sue Arden said: "All of these arrests probably would not have happened without the scheme."

Despite the success of Crimestoppers Mrs Arden believes many people still do not understand that it is totally anonymous. She said: "We have a simple phrase 'Pick up the phone and stay unknown.'"

Rewards of between £25 and £500 are available to people who provide information which leads to the arrest and charge of a suspected criminal.

Callers are given a unique code number which means they can claim their reward without the police or anyone else ever knowing who they are. Mrs Arden said: "A lot of people are not bothered about a reward, but they can still use their code to phone up and check if their information has led to a successful arrest.

"There can be various reasons why people want to be anonymous such as fear of reprisals or because they know someone suspected of crime personally. With Crimestoppers they can help the police without fear."

Crimestoppers is a registered charity and relies on donations to continue its work. Anyone who can help with donations can call Mrs Arden on 0161 228 7781.

The free and anonymous number for reporting information to Crimestoppers is 0800 555 111.