Crime Stoppers has become a household name in Australia, synonymous with crime prevention and community safety. Every five minutes someone reaches out to Crime Stoppers Victoria to provide crucial information by phone and online, contributing to almost 30,000 arrests in this state alone. However, this remarkable achievement didn’t happen by chance—it began with a vision to address the crime crisis facing Victoria in mid-80’s.
In 1985, Victoria was grappling with a significant surge in crime. Major crime rates had climbed to unprecedented levels, with assaults, robberies, and burglaries spiking across the state. Geoff Wilkinson, then Media Director for Victoria Police, recognised that despite improvements in policing methods, the growing crime wave was overwhelming law enforcement. Determined to find a solution, Geoff was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to study innovative crime-fighting strategies from around the world.
He “stumbled upon Crime Stoppers” when he met Lieutenant Pat Harnett, head of the relatively new Crime Stoppers unit at the New York Police Department. Geoff quickly realised it was a concept he could take back to Australia, a simple and effective means of getting information from those who have it to those who need it.
Drawing on examples from the US, Canada and the UK, Geoff returned with his hybrid version of Crime Stoppers, which was introduced in Victoria and later adopted in every Australian state and Territory.
When Geoff returned to Victoria, he was determined to bring this crime-fighting initiative to life. Teaming up with Inspector Ken McKenzie, the first Police Coordinator of Crime Stoppers in Victoria, Geoff set about raising the necessary funds and gathering support from all corners of the community. They secured $120,000 from 35 different sponsors, to cover rewards, promotional materials, and marketing efforts. They reached out to local businesses, media and the public for backing.
Crucial to this endeavour was the support of SI Mick Miller, the Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police at the time. Chief Commissioner Miller understood the vital role that community information could play in combating crime and was instrumental in championing the program within the police force.
Geoff recalls, “The Police, the media, and the community all had to support Crime Stoppers if it was to work. Thankfully they did, and they should all share in the credit.”
With the program officially launching in 1987, the impact was felt almost immediately. Everyday citizens, once hesitant to get involved, began playing an active role in helping law enforcement. Tips started pouring in, offering crucial leads that turned the tide of investigations. One of the early successes involved a passenger plane enroute to Europe, which was rerouted back to Australia after a Crime Stoppers tip alerted authorities to a murder suspect onboard.
Reflecting on the program’s early days Geoff said, “I’m not sure people realise how significant a lot of this information from the public is. The community is regularly providing very detailed, very important information about very serious offences.”
Geoff also recognised that while the concept of Crime Stoppers started in the US, its implementation in Australia required a different approach. He understood that in Australia, the emphasis needed to be placed on confidentiality rather than monetary incentives. This understanding shaped Crime Stoppers’ approach, focusing on anonymity as a shield for those willing to come forward.
The initial wave of support and success, secured through Geoff’s determination to make Crime Stoppers a success, demonstrated the power of the community to help solve crime and laid the groundwork for what would become a nationwide movement.
2024
Now, Crime Stoppers Victoria stands as a powerful example of Victoria’s commitment to crime prevention and detection. More than 1.5 million reports have been received since the program’s launch in 1987, and the number of reports continues to grow each year. These numbers reflect the enormous trust the Victorian community has in the program.
Crime Stoppers has also evolved over the years. Where once reenactments of crimes were the primary method for encouraging public participation, today, people share information through modern technology—mobiles, dashcams, and security cameras. This shift has made it easier than ever for Victorians to play an active role in solving crime.
Geoff, now a Life Member of Crime Stoppers Victoria, explained that the two key factors behind Crime Stoppers’ success are its “simplicity” and its “flexibility.”
“I think Crime Stoppers is important because it gives the public more confidence and more belief that they can do something about crime in their community,” Geoff stated.
“It’s become a part of routine operational policing now and has evolved from a reactive tool to a proactive force in preventing crime.”
In celebrating the achievements of Crime Stoppers, we also celebrate Geoff’s unwavering dedication and the powerful legacy he has created. His passion for Crime Stoppers continues to be reflected in the ongoing success of the program.
He went on to serve as a community member of the Sentencing Advisory Council for six years, and later spent five years on the Adults Parole Board. Geoff was also awarded an Order of Australia medal in 2008 for community service.
As Geoff once hoped, Crime Stoppers has transformed the relationship between the public and law enforcement, empowering ordinary citizens to play a direct role in crime prevention, making Victoria a safer place for all.
NOTE: Our thanks to Crime Stoppers Victoria for sharing this article and imagery.
