International awards for Crime Line

The awards were presented by CSI president Gary Murphy.

"Made its mark"

Enthuses head of Crime Line Yusuf Abramjee, "We are delighted. Crime Line has made its mark on the international stage in a very short space of time. "We were one of the first countries to introduce SMS technology for anonymous tip-offs using the 32211 number. Today, text messaging has become a major weapon, all over the world, in the fight against crime."

In the print category, Crime Line won the award for an outstanding campaign around the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The campaign called on South Africans to "give crime the boot", "show criminals the red card", "blow the whistle on crime" and "let's tackle crime".

In the radio category, a campaign highlighting a spate of mall robberies last year around SA was cited as being the best special report/feature. The promos called on the nation to blow the whistle on the culprits. In December 2009, Crime Line partnered with the South African Police Service (SAPS) in a festive season campaign that saw the deployment of large police contingents to malls.

Partnered with SHOUT

Earlier this year, Crime Line partnered with SHOUT, an initiative launched by leading artists, musicians and entertainers, which saw the launch of a music DVD. All proceeds go towards creating a safer South Africa.

SHOUT encourages the public to use Crime Line. CSI has adopted the "Tears for Fears" song and the plan is to take it worldwide.

In the "Best Television Report/Feature" category, the award again went to Crime Line for its association with SHOUT.

Crime Line has recorded over 1000 arrests and R36 million worth of seizures since its launch in June 2007. It is fully endorsed by the police and has the support of various companies, NGOs and civil society.

Many partnerships

Comments Abramjee, "We have many partnerships and we salute each and every organisation and every individual that has and continues to support Crime Line.

Partners include the SABC, Jacaranda 94.2, Algoa FM, DSTV, "When Duty Calls" on SABC 2, community radio, the Caxton Group of Newspapers, Ad reach, community newspapers and the Independent Group of Newspapers. From day one, the Primedia group of companies, as well as its four radio stations (Talk Radio 702, 94.7 Highveld Stereo, 567 Cape Talk and 94.5 Kfm) have been fully behind Crime Line.

Each month, Crime Line celebrates the 'Star of the Stars' for SAPS members who excel in partnership with Pick n Pay.

CSI VP Michael Gordon Gibson said he was "struck by the professionalism, vibrant energy and the passion" of all those involved in Crime Line when he visited South Africa during an Interpol Conference last year.

Crime Stoppers South Africa, of which Crime Line and Crime Stop are members, is being represented at the Canada conference by Major General Vinesh Moonoo and Colonel Attie Lamprecht of Detective Services. Abramjee, Moonoo and Lamprecht are directors of the CSI board, representing Africa. SA was admitted as a full member of the board last year.

Over 300 delegates from 20 countries are attending the conference.

"Let's continue to do the right thing"

Abramjee said: "Let's continue to do the right thing and strengthen the partnership between the public, the media and the police. Each and every South African needs to LEAD SA every day and stand up. Crime Line has entrenched itself as a mechanism to fight crime without endangering one's life or threatening one's safety. It's totally anonymous.

"Let's use our fingers to make tip-offs to the 32211 SMS number or to the www.crimeline.co.za tip-off page. Let's get more murderers, rapists, illegal gun traders, hijackers, fraudsters, drug dealers, poachers, money launderers and other thugs arrested."