ACT Region Crime Stoppers chair Oliver Forrester says posting about potential crimes online without reporting them to police doesn’t just mean action isn’t being taken, it can lead to other harm. Photo: ACT Region Crime Stoppers.
Vital information about potential crimes is being left in group posts or social media threads, and not reaching the ears of those who can actually make a difference.
Crime Stoppers Australia has launched a national campaign in response, pointing out the problematic consequence of posting about potential crimes online: that these issues aren’t being reported where it truly counts.
ACT Region Crime Stoppers chair Oliver Forrester said while social media has changed the way we share information, it’s also created a dangerous illusion of action.
“In the digital age, we’ve become accustomed to turning to social media to express our concerns or warn others – but typing isn’t telling,” he said.
“People might post about someone acting suspiciously in their street or share a rumour about local crime and feel like they’ve done their part.
“But if that information never reaches police, then nothing actually gets done.”
The ‘Don’t just post it – report it’ campaign urges people who see, hear or suspect criminal or suspicious behaviour to get in touch with the authorities.
The campaign was developed in Western Australia, highlighting real scenarios seen on social media pages across the country.
These include vision of a stranger caught on CCTV trying car doors shared online, people caught on camera coming and going from a park suggesting potential drug dealing, a person posting home security camera vision of someone stealing a package from the front of a home, and a post about a man seen stealing tools from the tray of a ute with others commenting about the man’s identity and where he could be found.
The national campaign calls on all of us not to just leave information about potential crimes on social media. Photo: Crime Stoppers.
Mr Forrester said while posting to social media may feel immediate and impactful, it did little to help police track down offenders, prevent crime or keep communities safe.
“We need to move beyond the false comfort of ‘raising awareness’ online and return to real-world responsibility,” he said.
“When people withhold vital information from those who can act on it – even unintentionally – they risk letting criminals operate unchecked.”
Crime Stoppers has also warned about how misuse of social media can cause real harm.
Unverified posts can fuel fear, spread misinformation and, in some cases, lead to vigilante behaviour or public shaming of innocent people.
“We don’t want to see communities whipped into panic over posts about incidents that never happened or weren’t crimes at all,” Mr Forrester said.
“We also don’t want to see reputations destroyed by people jumping to conclusions and naming names without proof.”
He said if a person didn’t want to go to the police, Crime Stoppers was an anonymous pathway where someone could speak up.
“You don’t have to give your name, make a formal statement or go to court. All we ask is that you share what you know so it can be properly assessed, potentially linked to other reports and acted on by police,” he said.
“Whether it’s a gut feeling, something you saw or something you heard, don’t just talk about it online. Take that extra step and report it to Crime Stoppers.
“Because real change doesn’t come from posts, it comes from action.”
Crime Stoppers operates in every state and territory across Australia. Information can be provided anonymously online or by calling 1800 333 000.
