CROOKS will have even fewer places to hide in Worcestershire, thanks to the success of a campaign to increase the number of calls to Crimestoppers.

Det Insp Steve Cullen said that, in the first three months of this year, West Mercia police's anonymous crime line, based in Worcestershire, received just 11 calls.

Since April, when the campaign was launched, 36 callers had shared vital information leading to arrests and convictions.

"We've received calls with information on a wide range of offences, including drug-dealing and the use of drugs, drink-drivers, robbery, arson, theft and attacks on animals," said Det Insp Cullen.

"The calls also help us collate information in order to build up intelligence that can be used in the future.

Anonymous

"So far, we've had adverts on buses that travel in and around Bromsgrove, and local pubs have also been sent some beer mats."

He said the service had a regular column in the Evening News' sister paper, the Redditch Advertiser, which had also generated calls.

"Leaflets will also be dropped through peoples doors in the coming months with details about Crimestoppers," he added.

"We'll always take action on the information given to us from the anonymous phoneline, so people can have the confidence that their information will have an impact.

"However, the whole point of Crimestoppers is to protect the anonymity of the person who called, so that is guaranteed."