AFTER figures released this week showed that recorded crime had risen 12 per cent last year, Police Commissioner Jonathan Smith yesterday urged potential witnesses "to come forward and do the right thing".

Commissioner Smith said the function of the criminal justice system relied heavily on people coming forward to give evidence.

And he praised those who had given useful co-operation in several cases this year.

"There have been challenges posed to us that some witnesses have clearly not been as forthcoming as they could have been," said Commissioner Smith.

"So our appeal is that witnesses must have the courage to come forward. Because if they don't come forward and assist in the investigation of serious criminal matters, that is a very dangerous path to go down.

"The Police Service can only be as successful in presenting evidence to a court of law based on what witnesses see and hear. If those witnesses don't come forward to the police, the Police Service cannot be expected to resolve some of those serious crimes. Our whole case presentation relies upon witnesses coming forward."

Some potential witnesses had been reluctant to give evidence for fear of reprisals, added the Commissioner, but he promised the police would do their utmost to protect witnesses.

"An important part to add into that is there is law to protect witnesses," he said. "The law creates an offence against individuals who intimidate witnesses. The law does protect.

"There have clearly been cases in the past where individuals have been somewhat fearful in coming forward for fear of reprisal.

"We try to reassure witnesses, allay their fears, and we continue to appeal to people that if they have evidence about serious criminal matters, it's important to do the right thing and step forward.

"We will protect all the rights that are afforded to that individual. A bedrock of the whole criminal justice system is members of the community feeling that they can provide witness statements and having the courage to stand up in a court of law and have their evidence examined in a court of law.

"We have to do it. Our staff have to do it all the time. Our only request is for the community to work with us and we hope they are up to that challenge. They have to be if the criminal justice system is to provide justice."

Being open with information wherever possible and gaining the trust of residents was a priority, said the Commissioner.

"We want to work with community as close as we can," he said. "I hope the country sees we have a very accessible press office.

"Getting the statistical information out there is something we're committed to. It can promote some active debate about the challenges we, as a country, face.

"It's really important to provide praise to the community who have co-operated well with a number of investigations we've had this year.

"Depending on the nature of the inquiry, we get different levels of co-operation. Certainly some of the high-profile investigations we've had this year, we've been very pleased with the level of co-operation we've had."

He added that he had seen a growing trend of trouble happening in places where crowds of people assembled late at night.

"One of the trends we've seen in the last two or three years is we've had a growing number of incidents that have occurred outside liquor premises or at other organised events. Any time there is a collection of people there's a potential for some sort of conflict.

"You start mixing in a late-night hour, drugs, where they are involved, and alcohol, and the potential has existed. We've responded to a number of such incidents in the last couple of years."