RESULTS 2009

“Thank you, callers!”

130 times per week an additional weapon against crime

Once again in 2009, anonymous callers prove to be an important additional weapon against crime. The number of valuable tips increases dramatically. Each week, no less than 130 times M.-tips turn out to be of value or decisive in investigations – compared to 91 times per week in 2008. A thank-you to all these anonymous callers is therefore appropriate, says the M.Foundation. 
Through M. 1,264 cases were solved; an increase of 78% compared to 2008. In addition, 1,382 suspects were arrested (increase of 26%) and an enormous amount of money and goods were seized- valued at more than 5,5 million Euro. No less than 184 tips were received regarding overt use of violence (increase of 60%), 415 reports of robberies (increase of 31%), 240 tips on homicide and manslaughter (increase of 33%). Interestingly, M. receives an increasing number of calls regarding the misconduct of hooligans (no less than three times the amount of last year).

Of all tips received by M. last year, 81% was useful and of these tips, no less than 80% were actually used in investigations. 74% of these reports proved to be decisive or valuable. When converted, this means that each week 130 tips prove to be an important additional weapon in the fight against crime. A total of 14,000 reports have been forwarded to M.’s partners (2008: 13,700). Currently, results of investigations are known for 29% of all useful tips.

60% increase in tips on violence

Interestingly, M. is receiving an increasing number of calls regarding violence. For example, a large number of tips were received regarding the beach riots in Hoek van Holland. The regional police IJsselland were able to arrest three residents of Deventer with regards to serious assault at the railway station. Police in Duiven tracked down a suspect who severely beat up a train passenger from Groningen. Partly because of M.tips, police were able to arrest the offender. Rotterdam police arrested a 37-year old man for assaulting an employee of the passenger transport company RET.
 

Increase in calls on football hooliganism

In 2009, M. received triple the amount of anonymous tips regarding the misconducts of football supporters or reports on hooligans planning disorderly conduct. For example, Friesland police reports that they were able to identify no less than 15 rioters after a large number of anonymous tips were received following the football match SC Cambuur – Roda JC. In Katwijk, football riots were prevented from happening altogether, partly because of tips received by M. In this case police were able to prevent a large number of supporters from other cities attending the game in order to meet up with each other. The mayor declared a state of emergency and was therefore able to force supporters from outside Katwijk to leave his council.

Continued increase in tips on robberies

As was the case in 2008, the number of reports regarding robberies increased significantly in 2009. This trend keeps pace with the rising number of hold-ups in The Netherlands. Overall, 415 reports were received (2008: 317). Partly because of these tips 54 arrests were made, 24 cases solved and 2 cases prevented. M. received tips about a violent robbery in Rotterdam during which the jeweller was seriously injured. M. was also called regarding a fatal hold-up on a jewellery dealer in Amsterdam. In July, police arrested two 17-year old boys from Zutphen for a robbery on a petrol station in their hometown. In this case too, information was passed on to M. Thanks to various anonymous tips, regional police in Noord-Holland Noord arrested thirteen youths responsible for a series of robberies on homes, businesses and shops in Heerhugowaard and Langedijk.

Drugs

In 2009, once again many tips were received regarding drugs (7,149 reports). A total of 181 kilos of hard drugs and 244,260 hemp plants were seized. M.-tips played an important role in a major operation executed by police in the Hoensbroek Kasteelbuurt area. This resulted in 18 eighteen arrests, the rounding up of nineteen hemp plantations and the finding of 6.5 kilos of amphetamines. The Royal Military Police were tipped off regarding a Surinamese man who had swallowed more than one hundred balls of drugs and who had bills to the value of tens of thousands of Euros stuck to his body.

And then…

In December, regional police Drenthe found 2,800 kilos of illegal fireworks in an empty warehouse in Emmen. The total number of reports regarding fireworks decreased slightly (minus 16%), however 7,794 kilos were seized – double the amount of 2008. The interregional fireworks team Gelderland-Midden/Gelderland-Zuid handled six successful cases thanks to tips through M.
M.-tips do not only lead to the solving of violent crimes. For instance, many calls were received regarding forgeries, fraud, money laundering and criminal assets. As a result, 22 million cigarettes worth 5.5 million Euro could be seized in a warehouse in Zwaag.