Only greater community involvement can ensure Bermuda's Crime Stoppers programme is able to continue ¿ or build upon ¿ its success, US Consul General Gregory Slayton believes.

The message is one he delivered as part of the 2007 International Crime Stoppers Conference, for which he served as keynote speaker.

"Community partnership is the foundation of a healthy society," he stated. "A successful Crime Stoppers programme relies not only on police intervention but also on the media and the civilian community."

The Crime Stoppers initiative was introduced to the island in 1996. Since then, 4,000 tips on criminal activity have been placed with police, with nearly 200 arrests said to be a direct result of the programme. Such tips have also enabled more than $21 million in illegal drugs to be confiscated and more than $1.5 million in stolen property to be recovered.

"While these statistics are indeed impressive, there's always room for improvement," Mr. Slayton (pictured) told delegates and leaders from around the world visiting Bermuda for the conference.

"The key is to educate the public about the important role they play in keeping our communities safe. This is where the media can do its part, by driving home the Crime Stoppers message again and again."

The Consul General said the initiative offered many opportunities for private-public co-operation. And he highlighted the US Stop List as something he hopes serves as a deterrent to those contemplating criminal activity ¿ persons convicted of serious crimes can be banned from entering the United States or travelling through the country to get to another.

"I brought up keep off the Stop List campaign as a way for young people to understand the perils," he said, describing it as a "great public/private/government initiative".

"I invited folks to think about that as a model and get involved with US ambassadors worldwide to help host countries create safe and secure environments."

The Consul General explained that his call for the community to become involved was intended as a message for each and every resident as Crime Stopper's success is dependent on that collective contribution. However, he admitted that as a small community, Bermuda faces challenges found the world over.

"Each one of us has to make a decision," he said. "Am I going to sit back and let criminal behaviour take over this island? Like cancer, it doesn't go away by itself. You're either part of the solution or the problem.

"I'm not suggesting it's easy, especially in communities like this. It's interesting a number of delegates from island nations took and ran with (the problem that) people are reluctant to speak up.

"They gave suggestions, solutions and talked about things that worked. One was making it clear this is a cancer and if law-abiding citizens ¿ 98 or 99 per cent of most countries ¿ don't work with the police, then this cancer will spread."

Persons with information can be certain that calls to the Crime Stoppers line ¿ 1-800-623-TIPS ¿ are completely confidential and that their identity is completely anonymous, Mr. Slayton added.

"It's all done in strict confidence. If you call because you see something suspicious or have reason to suspect someone is involved in drug dealing or whatever, you are protected."