Crime Stoppers Bermuda has launched an anti-violence campaign with the message “gun crime is too serious to ignore”.

The drive begins today and highlights the need for the public to get involved in addressing the island’s gun problem.

A spokeswoman for the organisation said: “Crime Stoppers Bermuda is asking the public to come forward with any piece of information, no matter how small, that relates to firearms and persons who may have access to them.

“The Bermuda community’s present situation is too serious to ignore.”

The spokeswoman wished to remind the public of its reward structure for anonymous information. Callers are eligible to receive: Up to $3,000 for information that leads to an arrest or seizure of illegal drugs, stolen property, or other unlawful acts within the community; up to $5,000 for information leading to the seizure of a firearm; and up to $6,000 for information that will help locate missing person Chavelle Dillon-Burgess.

Coinciding with the campaign is the launch of the new Crime Stoppers Bermuda website www.crimestoppers.bm which aims to be more community focused while providing a more user friendly reporting platform.

The new site was made possible through corporate, private and the public’s support of the third Annual BUEI Film Weekend held earlier this year which helped to fund it.

With the support of the MarketPlace and Lindo’s grocery stores, Bermuda Crime Stoppers will also be giving away branded reusable shopping bags.

Anyone wishing to learn more about Crime Stoppers Bermuda can visit the website at www.crimestoppers.bm which highlights current and past crimes within the community and promotional campaigns.

The website enables the public to send anonymous crime tips electronically.

The spokeswoman added: “We have over twenty-two years of support from the community in relation to the detection and prevention of crime, and during this time not one person who gave information has ever been identified, as Crime Stoppers do not want your name or details, just your information.”