People must stop the 'it is not my business' mentality and step forward to help Police solve crimes.

That was the message from Crime Stoppers chairwoman Joanne MacPhee who spoke at a press conference to launch a new website and telephone number changed in response to an almost ten percent increase in violent crime on the Island

She said: "In direct response to the violent crime soaring 9.3 percent and Bermudians rating crime as their biggest social concern ahead of education and housing, Crime Stoppers Bermuda has taken an aggressive, proactive approach to the issue.

"It is no longer acceptable for us to sit by and be held ransom by what amounts to a very small percentage of violent criminals.

"There is no longer a place in our society for the 'it is not my business' mentality because not it is everyone's business and unless people are willing to step forward anonymously or otherwise and share whatever information they have, then it will not matter how many Police officers they put on the streets. Crime will simply take over."

And she reassured the public that they would never have to testify in a trial for providing information.

Mrs MacPhee said: "At no time will they ever, ever, ever be asked to come forward and be a witness to an incident. We have never allowed any information. We do not gather any information on our callers.

"You can be assured that you will never be asked to come forward to be a witness in a court of law. It is up to the Police to build a case around that anonymous tip."

Mrs. MacPhee announced that since its inception in 1996, Crime Stoppers had received 3,352 tips, helped with 189 arrests, seen 227 cases cleared and helped to seize more than $1.4 million dollars in assets. The crime statistics were given in February and showed a 9.3 percent rise in 2008.

Mrs. MacPhee said that even though calls peak after a serious crime such as a murder happens, the number of calls to the Miami-based call centre are down significantly.

She stressed that people who call in with tips would always remain anonymous even if they ask for a reward and said most Bermudians who call the hot line seldom request a reward.

Mrs. MacPhee said the caller would be assigned an identification number and then arrange a place for the money to be put.

"If you want it in a coke can behind the hibiscus tree on whatever street. It is completely anonymous, even crime payment.

"We need the information. We're not expecting callers to give us the smoking gun. We're not expecting major crimes to be solved in one tip."

The maximum reward is $2,000, but that amount went up to $50,000 for information leading to Jason Lightbourne's killer.

Asked if Crime Stoppers would pay out to more than one person, Mrs. MacPhee said that has happened in the past but was unable to comment on individual cases out of confidentiality.

The new website is www.crimestoppers.bm and the number is 800-TIPS.