MORE than 860 arrests have been made following calls from the public to a crime-busting charity.
Hundreds of people plucked up the courage to contact Crimestoppers to offer information or report criminal activity in their area.
With the charity celebrating its 25th anniversary next year, Crimestoppers revealed 866 people were arrested and charged between April 2011 and March 2012 in Scotland as a result of information given anonymously to them by the public.
In Strathclyde alone, 501 people were arrested following calls from the public.
Kate Jackson, Crimestoppers' manager for Scotland, said: "More than 16 people a week have been brought to justice across Scotland in the last year due to the public contacting us."
Various campaigns, including projects against knife crime and fireraising, and youth initiatives have been launched across the country to help bring criminals to justice.
Alan Fraser, chairman of Crimestoppers' Strathclyde Board, said: "We are delighted 501 people have been arrested after the public came forward to Crimestoppers.
"It shows that people feel safe with the fact information can be given anonymously.
"Over the past 18 months we have also been concentrating on local campaigns and looking at issues which affect specific area. I think people are beginning to see that coming forward with information will ultimately have an impact on their communities."
Earlier this year Crimestoppers launched a campaign to beat human trafficking and its links to organised crime.
Crimestoppers in Scotland wants to catch gangs involved and to raise awareness of trafficking's connection with criminal gangs.
Trafficking can take many forms, including sexual exploitation, forced labour, in places like factories or restaurants, and domestic slavery, such as maids and child minders.
About 700 trafficked women are in Scotland and Crimestoppers says few people understand the consequences and serious implications behind trafficking and the fear that prevents people from speaking up about it.
Anyone wanting to offer information about a crime in their area can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 24/7 or through our secure online form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org
If you are interested in becoming a Crimestoppers volunteer, go to www.crimestoppers-uk.org/volunteer
deborah.anderson@ eveningtimes.co.uk