Crimestoppers receives 1m calls

Since being set up 20 years ago, Crimestoppers has helped police catch more than 85,000 suspects.

With the help of information passed anonymously to police through its confidential hotline, nearly 800 people have been charged with murder.

Officers have also recovered drugs worth £150 million and seized £102 million in goods.

The charity received its millionth "actionable call" - one resulting in useful information being passed to police - about a knife crime in Leicestershire.

Its most famous success was the capture of M25 rapist Antoni Imiela. He carried out a year-long series of sex attacks on women before being arrested in December 2002 after his neighbour tipped off police via Crimestoppers.

The charity's founder, millionaire businessman and Conservative Party deputy chairman Lord Ashcroft, hailed last week's landmark.

"I never dreamt for a moment that we would reach this incredible milestone," he said.

"It is testimony to the success of Crimestoppers and the impact we are making in helping the police to solve crimes and make our communities safer."

Crimestoppers says information it provides contributes to one person being charged every five days.