Our Timeline
Crime Stoppers Australia established as an independent not-for-profit registered charity, representing the collective eight state and territory programs in Australia.
The Board of Directors is made up of representatives from volunteer Boards for each jurisdiction and a Senior Executive representing the Australian Police Commissioners.
Since it inception, Crime Stoppers across Australia received (up to 30 June 2002) a total of 1,131,750 calls, 21,537 arrests and 82,938 charges.
Crime Stoppers Australia launches a website as an additional means of engaging with the community, offering easy access links to state and territory-based programs.
This announcement marked a new strategic partnership in Crime Prevention for Australia and remained in place for more than a decade
Whilst a key focus of CSA operations remained on crime solving, CSA began to broaden its perspective to take a pro-active position in crime prevention, urging homeowners and businesses to mark assets of significant value.
Identity Theft Awareness: An education program explaining the do’s and don’ts and how to best protect your identity.
Outlaw Motor Cycle Gangs: Working with Police across certain States and Territories, a campaign was developed to encourage the public to call Crime Stoppers with relevant information.
Operation INFRA9: A worldwide fugitive hunt coordinated by Interpol and supported by Crime Stoppers International and Crime Stoppers Australia.
This initiative allowed uploading of information about criminal activity together with photos and videos using a smart phone or tablet computer.
National results in 2014 saw 113,000 intelligence reports written from 252,000 contacts, leading to 5,419 arrests and 16,022 charges laid for a range of crimes.
National Crime Stoppers Day 2015 marked the achievement of more than one million people contacting Crime Stoppers since it was founded in Australia in 1987, with the total number of arrests resulting from Crime Stoppers reports passing 50,000.
During the campaign more than 3.6kgs of illicit substances, including methylamphetamine, representing more than $860,000 worth of illicit drugs, were seized by police and prevented from being trafficked throughout Australia and further afield. The Dob in a Dealer initiative also generated significant media interest, estimated to be valued at almost $7.5million.
Operation Roam asked for the public’s help to catch 19 fugitives, with 12 of those wanted people located thanks to help from the community.
As part of the day Crime Stoppers released a new animated video which helps to inform Australians about the methods by which they can contact Crime Stoppers.
CSA implemented a national Illicit Firearms Campaign funded by the Attorney General’s Department to support the amnesty. The grass roots community focus adopted engaged more than 255,000 people through 79 community events delivered across the country and reached almost 1.4 million people via social media.
Operation Roam | Rogue Radar saw images of 20 wanted people in Australia and asked for community help to catch them.
The theme of the 2018 event was ‘crime is crime in any language’ to encourage people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds to share what they know about unsolved crimes and suspicious activity.
In 2018, Crime Stoppers programs across the nation received 319,861 contacts via the hotline, website and other means, resulting in 145,442 information reports, resulting in 5,406 apprehensions and more than 15,580 charges laid.
In addition to being the first woman to hold this important national post, Diana is also Chair of ACT Region Crime Stoppers.
A total of 313,655 contacts were received in 2019 about criminals and illegal activity, leading to 155,240 information reports for follow-up action by police, resulting in 5,215 apprehensions and 18,686 charges.
The completely revamped website ensured a one-stop shop for anyone wanting to contact any of the eight Crime Stoppers programs across the nation, access the latest crime prevention information about how to stay safe, as well as learn more about a range of national Crime Stoppers award-winning campaigns.
Read the media release here.
An independent national survey reveals as many as 1 in 5 Australians choose to turn a blind eye to unsolved crime and suspicious activity rather than speaking out, prompting the theme “Trust Your Gut.”
Crime Stoppers Day 2021 provided opportunity to remind people that their superpower is the courage to speak up and share what they know about unsolved crime and suspicious activity.
Read more here.
In July 2021, Crime Stoppers Australia partnered with the Department of Home Affairs to promote a permanent national firearms amnesty, which gave people opportunity to hand in unwanted and unregistered firearms, parts and ammunition without fear of penalty. More than 11,000 firearms were handed in across the nation during a 3-month campaign.
Read more here.
Crime Stoppers Australia Board member Dr Vince Hughes is announced as the new Chair of Crime Stoppers Australia, following the not-for-profit’s Annual General Meeting.
Read more here.
Crime Stoppers launches Phase Two of the National Illicit Firearms Campaign, with Crime Stoppers jurisdictions across Australia encouraging people to share what they know about illegal guns through dozens of local engagement activities over a 3-month period.
Read more here.
With some people unsure about when to contact Crime Stoppers versus Police Assistance and Triple 000, Crime Stoppers Australia used Crime Stoppers Day on Monday, 23 May 2022 to set the record straight through the Make the Right Call campaign. Read more here.
With the Illegal trade in wildlife estimated to be worth up to AU$30 billion globally per year, Crime Stoppers worked with some of Australia’s leading education professionals to develop a Wildlife Crime and the Law teachers’ resource for educators of Years 7-10 students. Read more here.
A rapidly growing number of Australians are going online to share information about unsolved crimes and suspicious activity with Crime Stoppers, with our 2022 calendar year results marking the first time online reports outnumbered phone calls.
Crime Stoppers Australia launches the “They’ll never know” campaign, using $3.55 million from seized criminal assets to turn the tables on organised crime and the illicit drug trade. Read the media release here.
A suite of multi-language options are released in Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Malay, Punjabi, Spanish and Vietnamese, the range of promotional materials encourage people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities to anonymously share information about the illicit drug trade. Read more here.
There are more than 35 links to videos, websites, apps and worksheets within the latest pack, covering drug trafficking, drug crime and the law and the signs of illegal drug manufacture, supply and distribution. Find out more here.
