Anonymous calls to the CrimeStoppers hot line have risen by more than 52 percent from last year, according to organisation chairman John Drew.

The public are now taking advantage and feeling more confident in using the confidential telephone number or web-tips and making their voices heard without identifying themselves, Mr Drew said.

"In some cases the public have even uploaded photographs onto our confidential web-tips programme, which when passed to the appropriate law enforcement agency enhances further their investigations," he added.

His comments come after Senator David Burch told the Senate on Wednesday the amount of calls to the confidential hot line, based in Miami, Florida, had risen "significantly".

Sen Burch said he was encouraged by the enthusiasm of the public to report crime and praised support from the business community who funded the rewards.

The National Security Minister said some callers were opting not to take the reward money and simply wanted to give information to establish peace in the community.

Mr Drew added: "Most people who call CrimeStoppers Bermuda do not want a reward they just want to provide information to assist our Police or Customs to catch the criminal without identifying themselves and not be involved in any court case due to their anonymity.

"Although we do give rewards up to $2,000 cash for information that leads to an arrest, and with the support of the concerned business community we have a major reward of up to $100,000 for information that helps arrest and convict individuals involved in firearms incidents.

"But we would never disclose if such rewards have been paid out to members of the public as this would breach our code of confidentiality."

He said throughout the world the Crime Stoppers programmes has "never" identified a caller as the person who passed information on to the organisation.

That would defeat the purpose of the programme, he said, adding: "Any piece of information no matter how small can be that final piece of the 'jigsaw' that can solve the crime."

Next week two Miami-based CrimeStoppers officials will be on Island to meet with the media and assure the public of the security and level of anonymity involved.

He said the meeting on December 2 and 3 would "let the public see some of the 'call-takers' who answer our confidential calls (in) the great area of Florida and those of other Caribbean islands such as Bahamas, Cayman and Barbados".

"Also during this two day period Crime Stoppers Bermuda will launch our new public awareness campaign to our community so they understand how the programme works and how to use it if the want to 'Stop the violence... and end the silence'."

For more information on the organisation or to give an anonymous tip call 800-8477 or visit www.crimestopers.bm