After the Christmas shootings and as wary members of the public question the anonymity of the CrimeStoppers hotline, the local chairwoman Joanne MacPhee explains how it works:

CrimeStoppers, founded in 1995, is an international organisation that relies on its ability to keep information anonymous not only for Bermuda, but America, Canada and other Caribbean countries.

The information the anonymous caller gives is dealt with in such strict confidence that even if a Police report was stolen or leaked — as it was suggested on the Internet in connection with the BHC probe — no one would know who it was.

That's because, according to Mrs. MacPhee, a name is never taken down. Here she explains how it works.

Step One: You call toll-free hotline: 1-800- to report what you know.

Step Two: A phone dedicated to calls from Bermuda, so there is no number ID or trace used, rings in Dadeland, Florida Police station.

Step Three: The officer who picks up the phone asks you what you wish to give information about. They will never ask your name, address or any other identifying detail.

Step Four: The same officer will write down the discussion and again will not say if you are male, female, young or an old person who gave them the information.

Step Five: They will ask you if you would like to receive a reward. If so you will be given a secret code to use when you call back and the information led to an arrest.

Step Six: An officer in the Bermuda service will be called, e-mailed or faxed your information with nothing more than the facts.

Step Seven: The Bermudian corespondent will pass it on to the relevant authority. He/She will also decide whether it is important to indicate the tip came from CrimeStoppers. Often they will not.

Step Eight: If the information leads to an arrest and/or the resolution of a crime you can ask for the reward, and you will call the hotline and give the code.

Step Nine: The Florida-based officer will then call Bermuda and ask how much reward is due.

Step Ten: Two days later you can call the hotline again.