How to Report Crime (& wildlife crime) Anonymously

Mary Beth Maassen

Crimestoppers is an independent charity (which also lets you report wildlife crime anonymously), that gives communities the power to stop crime, by anonymously reporting concerns (by phone or online, every day of the year).

Crimestoppers is not the police. For emergencies, obviously call 999 (and don’t waste their time – some people have called, due to not completing a crossword answer?)

Began as a Community Action Trust in 1988, it was founded for a way to people to come forward with information about the murder of PC Keith Blakelock, during the 1985 London riots. Police knew that some people knew who was responsible, but were too afraid to come forward.

Since that time, they have listened to millions of people (most reports are now online), with appeals having resulted in over 140,000 arrests. Co-founder Lord Ashcroft is an interesting character. A former Conservative politician, he has signed up to The Giving Pledge (where the world’s wealthiest individuals pledge to give most of their wealth to good causes).

He is also passionate about wildlife. He campaigns against whale harpooning, captive breeding and trophy hunting (since the sad death of Cecil the lion, over 60 wild lions have been killed by British hunters). The ban has been delayed, by some peers in the House of Lords.

Does Crimestoppers guarantee anonymity?

Yes. In 35 years, this charity’s guarantee of anonymity has never been broken. Yet it also offers rewards to some for giving information. Just ask for a reward code when you first speak to a call agent, or enter REWARD REQUEST in the online form. Then log back in 24 hours later, to get your reward code.

This can then be used to pick up cash rewards at designated banks, without need to show ID, using a secret password and pickup date.

Report wildlife crime Anonymously

Ailsa Black

Wildlife crime isn’t just “country things”. It can happen on footpaths, riverbanks, farmland edges, parks, and even gardens. It includes harming protected species, illegal hunting, illegal trapping, and damaging habitats. As a single incident or over weeks.

Examples include poison bait, trapped birds of prey, disturbed badger setts, illegal hare coursing, deer poaching, illegal netting or fish trapping (including eel traps), trading protected species, and damage to nesting sites.

If you’re not sure whether something is illegal, report what you saw anyway. Investigators can sort out the legal detail later. Wildlife offences often happen in remote places, so location matters even more than usual. A “field near the woods” is hard to search. Try to note:

• Grid reference or What3Words, plus nearest road or parking spot.
• How people accessed the area (gate, track, footpath).
• Vehicle details, including number plates and where parked.
• Number of people and what they were doing.
• Weapons, traps, nets, or lamps, if seen.
• Unusual smells (like chemicals), without getting close.
• Dead or injured animals, seen from a safe distance.

Take extra care around suspected poison. Don’t touch bait, and keep children and pets away. Report urgently, because poison can harm pets, wildlife, and people.

Crimestoppers also run regular campaigns

• Setting up Neighbourhood Watch Schemes
• Targeting retail crime, shoplifting and money laundering.
• Preventing irresponsible use of fireworks (near police forces)
• Stopping exploitation of vulnerable workers
• Preventing rural crime and illegal dumping of waste.

A suite of crime prevention advice

Crimestoppers website has a whole suite of good information on keeping safe, which is a good read for personal use, businesses, councils, schools and communities. It covers:

• Personal safety (domestic abuse, weapons crime, child neglect, sexual harassment and stalking, violence against sex workers, theft, hate crimes, mobile phone safety, identity theft and staying safe abroad.
• Home and property safety (preventing home burglaries and vehicle theft). Plus tips on online safety, fraud prevention, scams and fake bank notes.
• Rural crime – tip on preventing theft, arson, fly-tipping and wildlife crime (birds of prey, badger baiting, hare coursing, harming bats and illegal poaching).

When it is an emergency: call 999

Call 999 when there’s danger now. That includes ongoing violence, serious threats, burglary in progress, arson, or someone carrying a weapon. It also includes active wildlife persecution (setting dogs on animals, using traps, placing poison bait).

999 is not an anonymous service. The call handler may see your number, and the police may need a statement later. Still, you can say early on that you’re worried about your identity, and ask for your details to be kept private. Call handlers deal with this every day.

Keep it short at the start. Share the things that help officers arrive quickly:

• Exact location (road name, nearby landmark, postcode).
• What is happening now, in plain words.
• Descriptions of people, vehicles, and clothing.
• Direction of travel (towards high street, down the lane, northbound).

If you can’t stay on the line, say so. If you can, stay nearby at a safe distance and update what you see.

Not urgent? Report to 101 (or online)

Use the non-emergency route when the risk isn’t immediate. For example, you notice suspicious activity, you find damage later, or you spot signs of something illegal the next day.

If you give your details, ask how your information will be handled. You can request that the police don’t share your details with the suspect. Some forces can flag reports as restricted or confidential. It doesn’t guarantee you’ll never be contacted again, but it reduces the chance your name goes further than it needs to.

In many cases, police can act on intelligence without using you as a witness. Sometimes they need a formal statement, but should explain your options.

Also think about your own ‘digital footprints’. If you post on social media, you can accidentally reveal where you were standing, who you were with, or what time you were there. That can undo anonymity in seconds.

Photos or video can help, but only if it’s safe and legal. Don’t trespass to get a better angle. Don’t confront anyone. Don’t touch items left behind, because you could destroy fingerprints or contaminate evidence. Save files securely, and avoid sharing them publicly before reporting.