S. Africa launches new scheme: tip off the police by SMS

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2007

JOHANNESBURG (AFP) — Citizens in crime-ridden South Africa will be able to use text messages to anonymously tip-off the police under a new scheme launched on Thursday.

The programme, set up by the safety and security ministry and Prime Media group, enables people to send an SMS to a commercial radio station, which will then pass the message onto the police without the contact's details.

"We have crime problems in South Africa and we cannot continue to sit back and watch things degenerate further," project coordinator Yusuf Abramjee told AFP.

"Some people who are scared about reprisals if they pass crime information directly to the police should now feel free to contact us. We will make their details anonymous before sending the information to the police."...