Facewatch, which was founded in 2010, gives members access to a secure website on which they can report small crimes, such as bag theft, and upload CCTV images to share with the police and other members.
This helps create a database of known offenders and reduce the opportunity for crime to take place. It was set up by Simon Gordon, managing director of Gordon’s Wine Bar.
Crimestoppers’ chief executive Michael Laurie said: “This is an exciting opportunity to further develop Crimestoppers’ range of services for the public in providing them with an anonymous route to pass on information about crime as well as an opportunity to embrace the business community.”
ACPO president Sir Hugh Orde added: “Crimestoppers is well loved by the public and also provides a great service for law enforcement across the UK. The opportunity to gain access to the latest technology through partnering with Facewatch is a great move and one which I applaud and support wholeheartedly.”
Gordon said: “The fundamental aim of Facewatch is to reduce low level crime using the very latest internet technology which empowers businesses, the public and the police to work together.”