The University of Queensland (UQ) has thrown its support behind a community campaign to tackle crime in the Lockyer Valley.
Queensland Police and Corrective Services Minister Judy Spence and UQ Gatton Campus Director Professor Roger Swift launched the Crime Stoppers program on the Gatton campus today as part of a broader roll-out of the program across the Lockyer’s three shires.
The Crime Stoppers program provides a toll-free, 24-hour ‘hotline’ for members of the community to provide anonymous information about criminal activity.
The anonymous information is then directed to the most appropriate police group to respond.
“While crime is not a major problem on the Gatton campus at all, the University is a proud and committed member of the Lockyer Valley community,” Professor Swift said.
“In fact, under one name or another, the Lockyer Valley has been home to the UQ Gatton campus for 107 years now.
“Like every member of the community, we have a responsibility to help make our community a safer and better place to live, work and play.
“That’s why we have joined with the Lockyer Crime Stoppers committee and our adjoining shires of Gatton, Laidley and Esk in introducing the Crime Stoppers program to the area.”
President of the Lockyer Crime Stoppers committee Allan Kowaltzke said the program had proved enormously successful in Queensland, results that local Crime Stoppers supporters hoped to replicate in the Lockyer Valley.
“Just in June this year, there were 3,189 calls to Crime Stoppers, 930 of which were forwarded to local police for investigation resulting in 154 people arrested on 411 charges,” Mr Kowaltzke said.
“By extending the Crime Stoppers program in the Lockyer we want to raise public awareness of the 1800 333 000 hotline in this area to help in our community’s fight against crime.”
Professor Swift said UQ Gatton had been privileged to host the Police Minister for the launch of the Crime Stoppers program. Her participation was due recognition of the importance of Crime Stoppers and the cooperative effort of the local community in introducing the program to the Lockyer, he said.
Crime Stoppers signs displaying the program’s 1800 333 000 toll-free phone number have been placed centrally and at both entrances to the Gatton campus.
More information about the Crime Stoppers program can be found at www.crimestoppers.com.au
For more information, contact Brad Henderson on (07) 5460 1229 or 0409.265.587.
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