There has been a massive rise in the number of Fifers shopping criminals thanks to a new campaign.
Fife Constabulary said reports about suspect activities and criminals had risen by 80% since the start of the police campaign tackling people who are making money from crime across the east of Scotland.
The independent charity Crimestoppers reported an overall 30% increase in intelligence reports since the Made From Crime? initiative was launched across the east Scotland area on January 21.
Lothian and Borders Police, Central Scotland Police and Fife Constabulary are all taking part in this phase of the campaign, which is designed to make specific use of proceeds of crime (Poca) legislation.
The initiative, which is the only Poca project of its kind in Scotland and has the backing of the Scottish Government and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, asks the public to come forward and report their suspicions about people who may be making money illegally.
People are able to report information through a number of ways including telephone calls, online, and through specific Facebook advertising which police forces are using to target communities throughout the east of Scotland.
The biggest rise in information came from the Fife Constabulary area, where there was an 80% rise in intelligence reports following the launch of the campaign.
The information has now been passed to police forces to investigate further.
A similar campaign which ran in the Lothian and Borders area in 2011 saw a 17% rise in information to Crimestoppers and allowed officers to target criminals in a series of raids across two days.
During this period, over £6.4 million worth of assets were identified for seizure from criminals and 44 people were arrested.
Fife Constabulary’s Detective Chief Inspector David McLaren said: “I am delighted that the public have got behind this campaign and taken the time to contact us with information.
“Since the start of the initiative there has been an 80% increase in the number of Crimestoppers calls relating to Fife alone and I think this is a measure of how fed up our communities are of seeing individuals living opulent lifestyles paidfor by crime.
“The information received so far will assist us in targeting these criminals but its really important the information keeps coming.”
Detective Superintendent David Gordon, head of the Serious and Organised Crime Unit at Lothian and Borders Police, said that forces across the east of Scotland were committed to targeting criminals who fund their lifestyles through crime.
“I am delighted that members of the public have come forward to tell Crimestoppers about their suspicions, and that they in turn have been able to provide us with vital intelligence to help us in our efforts to rid communities of crime.
“I know people can be scared to tell us about those who are making their lives a misery by peddling crime in their area, however please be reassured that all information will be treated in the strictest confidence.”
Kate Jackson, national manager for Crimestoppers Scotland, added: “The public response speaks for itself and clearly people are not prepared to put up with criminality so have contacted us with information.
“I would urge anyone else who has information about crime to contact us on 0800 555 111 where we guarantee their anonymity.”