CrimeStoppers believes it has made inroads into tackling crime after reporting a 100 percent increase in the number of calls it received over the first four months of the year.

Between January and April this year, the local branch of the international organisation responded to 100 percent more calls from people offering information on criminal activity than the same period last year.

Coordinator of the civilian-run organisation Alex McDonald said the rise in calls proved that people were beginning to realise that CrimeStoppers existed and allowed them to pass on information anonymously.

Although he did not wish to give exact figures, he said he believed the rise was due to a greater trust in the organisation.

And he said he was greatly heartened by the significant increase in calls during the ten days since CrimeStoppers launched its latest campaign to kick drugs off the Island, Rat on a Rat.

He said two young teenagers even called and offered information on drug-taking within their schools.

He said: "We are delighted with the increase in calls for the first four months of the year. One hundred percent is a big increase.

"And we are particularly glad to see the Rat on a Rat campaign being so successful. It has only just got off the ground so we are expecting it to go from strength to strength.

"During the last ten days, we have had a number of calls coming in from the public concerning drug activity in various areas on the Island.

"One arrest has been made because of the public response to the campaign and it's not only drug calls that we are getting.

"During the last ten days alone there has been a significant increase all-round.'' Many of the calls CrimeStoppers receive go via an operator in Miami who takes the calls and passes on the information to coordinators in Bermuda.

But from last week, all calls made to the crime-busting organisation were due to be routed through the southern US city.

However technical difficulties have arisen, so the service will remain as normal during the next few days, but plans for all calls to go via Miami are still in place.

But Mr. McDonald was keen to emphasise that callers can remain anonymous, even if they wish to claim a reward after somebody is arrested as a direct result of the information they have given.

And he said all information was treated in the strictest of confidence.

CrimeStoppers can be contacted on 1-800-623-8477.