TORONTO – Witnesses to crime now have the option to anonymously text message their tips to Canadian Crime Stoppers, thanks to a new program launched today.
Cell phone users in most major urban centres will have the ability to make anonymous tips by text messaging Canadian Crime Stoppers at CRIMES (274637).
The new program was created in collaboration with Texas-based Anderson Software and today’s announcement coincides with the launch of similar programs in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Anderson Software’s TipSoft allows text-messaging tipsters to remain anonymous, by assigning an encrypted alias to all identifying information. This program also allows Crime Stoppers to respond by text message to the originating cell phone without ever knowing the tipster’s identity.
“In Canada, we are delighted to now have the capability to receive tips via text message,” said Ralph Page, chair of the Canadian Crime Stoppers Association. “We do know that the younger generation, in particular, is adept at text messaging, and it is our hope that we can further increase the number of tips coming into Crime Stoppers using this new, anonymous and secure technology.”
Text messaging has become an increasingly popular means of communication in Canada. According to the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association, the number of person-to-person text messages in Canada totalled 10.1 billion in 2007, an increase of 133% over the 2006 total of 4.3 billion messages. Canadians send almost 40 million text messages per day, according to CWTA.
The major Canadian regions taking part in the new Crime Stoppers text-messaging initiative include: Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, P.E.I., New Brunswick, Ottawa, Toronto, Halton, Sudbury, Northwest Ontario, Winnipeg, Regina, Saskatoon, Moose Jaw, Edmonton, Calgary and Lethbridge.
Each participating region has a specific tip number code, which tipsters will be required to include when they text their tips to CRIMES. The service has no premium fee, but standard text-messaging rates apply.
A full list of regional tip codes and complete instructions about texting tips to Crime Stoppers can be found at www.smscrimetips.com.
