How to contact the police anonymously

prowla

Use a phone box and get a voice changer app.

"'Ere, I've eard a whisper that there's somefing going daaawn..."

BoyJohn811

I just find it weird that the police in the UK likes to collect everything they possibly can about everyone (UK is one of the most surveilled countries in the world) and yet crime is rampant. Burglaries, car-related and petty crimes are mostly unsolved, crimes over the internet are a wild-west (anyone can do whatever they want) and even serious crimes (e.g. stabbings, shootings) only get attention when the media is involved nationwide. There are countries where pretty much everyone is surveilled all the time (e.g. Singapore), but they do it effectively with almost zero crime. Not being able to contact the police anonymously (just via some charity, which might or might not pass the info) goes against common sense, but perhaps this is just my thinking.

Grey_Critic

Think we are going around in circles here. we have no idea what you want to tell the Police - does it concern one of their own?

Is it a case that you cannot avoid becoming involved if your identity is disclosed.

If it involves a child or a vunerable person then shilly shallying around asking questions on the internet is not acceptable.

If you have nothing to hide then do as others have advised. A letter might work but they probably receive these on a regular basis so it needs to be written with a bit of thought not to be viewed as yet another crank.

The call to Crimestoppers from a telephone box is probably the best way to go (forget voice changing apps or silly voices if you want taking seriously) but can we please stop messing about. If is serious then get on with it.

Car_54

BoyJohn811 said:

I just find it weird that the police in the UK likes to collect everything they possibly can about everyone (UK is one of the most surveilled countries in the world) and yet crime is rampant. 

Apart from those used for speeding and red-light offences, most (if not all) surveillance cameras are NOT operated by the police. Local councils, highway authorities, private firms, householders ...

shiraz99

BoyJohn811 said:

I just find it weird that the police in the UK likes to collect everything they possibly can about everyone (UK is one of the most surveilled countries in the world) and yet crime is rampant. Burglaries, car-related and petty crimes are mostly unsolved, crimes over the internet are a wild-west (anyone can do whatever they want) and even serious crimes (e.g. stabbings, shootings) only get attention when the media is involved nationwide. There are countries where pretty much everyone is surveilled all the time (e.g. Singapore), but they do it effectively with almost zero crime. Not being able to contact the police anonymously (just via some charity, which might or might not pass the info) goes against common sense, but perhaps this is just my thinking.

That might be your perception, but it isn't actually true. Overall, crime has fallen continuously for decades and is actually lower than it was in the early eighties where we weren't so highly surveilled.

Now we ask again, is this vehicle related and does it actually warrant an anonymous call to the police. 

BoyJohn811

Thanks for the input, sorry, it was more about my ranting...It is vehicle related but I am also a witness, and since I live very near I definitely do not want this to come back to me in any way (even just by being seen talking to the police). I went with Crimestoppers. Thanks.

DanDare999

BoyJohn811 said:

Thanks for the input, sorry, it was more about my ranting...It is vehicle related but I am also a witness, and since I live very near I definitely do not want this to come back to me in any way (even just by being seen talking to the police). I went with Crimestoppers. Thanks.

What do you realistically expect the police to do? Unless they catch the suspect committing an offence, a witness who is unwilling to give a statement or attend court is a waste of their time. If the charged the suspect and they plead not guilty there is an expectation that you'll attend court. 

Grey_Critic

BoyJohn811 said:

Thanks for the input, sorry, it was more about my ranting...It is vehicle related but I am also a witness, and since I live very near I definitely do not want this to come back to me in any way (even just by being seen talking to the police). I went with Crimestoppers. Thanks.

So are you already listed as a witness or just witnessed what happened? If it was car A bumped car B then I would just forget it - that happens all the time.

If it has resulted in serious injury/death then it is another matter and, in my opinion at least you have a duty to come forward. Consider that the Police with information gathered from other sources may actually identify and question you.

Years ago that actually happened to us when the Police asked our son ( he was not involved in any way just making his way home from work)  if he had seen a particular person one evening in the bus station. He said yes when he was waiting for the bus.

The result was an arrest and prison sentence for the person he identified who was charged with robbery with violence - together with others he had broken into a house, beat up an OAP and robbed him

Indout96

Grey_Critic said:

Years ago that actually happened to us when the Police asked our son ( he was not involved in any way just making his way home from work)  if he had seen a particular person one evening in the bus station. He said yes when he was waiting for the bus.

The result was an arrest and prison sentence for the person he identified who was charged with robbery with violence - together with others he had broken into a house, beat up an OAP and robbed him

But had the person not been convicted he would have had the witnesses names supplied to his legal representative so your son may have been at risk of reprisals - there are many reasons why a witness may not want to be known to the offender.
https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/witness-protection-and-anonymity 

diystarter7

sheramber said:

My husband made a report to Crimestoppers and they called him back and asked him to approach the person he had reported.

Fair enough but to be blunt, that is incredible and not the Crimestoppers I am familiar with.

Are you sure it was just a general chat and a joke?

They can only come back to you if you give them your details.

Crimestoppers for safe reporting of crime that is non-urgent and you don't want to be identified .