Paynes to launch crime appeal

Sara and Michael Payne are supporting Crimestoppers week

The parents of murdered schoolgirl Sarah Payne are urging the public to do more to assist police in their fight against crime.

Michael and Sara Payne will help launch a poster campaign for Crimestoppers, the confidential freephone public telephone line which allows people to report crimes anonymously.

They will be joined by Conservative Party treasurer and Crimestoppers founder Lord Ashcroft in London at the start of Crimestoppers week on Sunday.

A Crimestoppers spokesman said: "The theme of the week is to get the public to report more crime.

"Many victims of crime are conversely those least willing to report it - often because they are afraid.

"But with an anonymous call to Crimestoppers they can, without fear, improve the quality of their lives and their neighbourhood, as well as reducing the suffering of those affected by crime."

Arrests

Crimestoppers was launched in Britain in 1988.

During its lifetime, it has received more than 392,000 calls leading to over 36,000 arrests and the recovery of property worth about £50m.

Eight-year-old Sarah Payne went missing while playing with her brothers and sister, near her grandparents' home in West Sussex in July last year.

Her body was found near Littlehampton, close to where she disappeared.

Roy Whiting, 42, of Littlehampton, has pleaded not guilty to kidnapping and murdering Sarah. He will go on trial in November.

The Crimestoppers freephone number is 0800 555111.