By Jean Kingdon

A RECORD number of arrests and charges from information supplied to the anonymous Crimestoppers number have been recorded in Shropshire this year.

The system allows callers to ring a special number if they are able to help police inquiries.

In the county as a whole, 243 actionable calls were recorded up to October 31. These led to the arrest of 65 people and them being charged with a variety of offences.

This is already more than double the figure for the whole of last year.

Ins John Peyton, of Ludlow Police, said the system had worked extremely well in south Shropshire.

"We try to promote this as much as we can," he added.

"It's a way of letting people give us information in confidence.

"For instance, we do get calls about the menace of drink drivers.

"Recently, a man in Church Stretton was arrested and charged following a tip-off from a member of the public.

"Similarly, with the heroin problem in Ludlow a few years back, we had a big response from the public wishing to help us."

Shropshire has the highest number of people arrested and charged so far this year in the West Mercia Police area.

They include offences of criminal damage, drugs, disqualified driving, burglary, assault, theft and breach of firearms legislation.

The Crimestoppers national freephone number is 0800 555 111.

Callers also stand to receive rewards when information leads to an arrest and charge.