Without anonymity, Crime Stoppers feels tips from public would not come
An update to Niagara Falls city council from Crime Stoppers Niagara as to how the community has helped fight crime, through anonymous tips.
Vice Chair Jason Snyder points to statistics from 2021 and 2022... the numbers for this year are not in yet.
"Our tipsters in the Niagara Region have led to the seizure of over $332,000 worth of drugs pulled off the street... they have recovered almost $380,000 worth of stolen property... and straight up cash recovered, $273,000 over those 2 years," he says.
City council approved greater partnership with Crime Stoppers, including looking at more signs on sides of streets reminding people of the organization.
He also gave a stark reminder as to why anonymous tips are so important, questioning what would happen if caller's ID was recorded. "If you're going to be calling on your neighbour... 'I think my neighbour is beating their child', that's not something you want to be a part of. You want to be able to get away from it and make the behaviour stop. Those sorts of tips, without the anonymity, I don't think they'd be coming in."
Board member Mike Britton adds the anonymity of Crime Stoppers has been challenged twice to the Supreme Court of Canada, the challenges seeking the sources of tips. Both times the ruling sided with Crime Stoppers, and he says the rulings were so heavy, it can't go back to the Supreme Court.
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