CRIMESTOPPERS is launching a campaign in the North-East today to crack down on drugs as part of Crimestoppers Week.

North-East Crimestoppers has been operating in the region for 16 years and in that time has helped recover £4m worth of property and drugs.

Both regionally and nationally, 2003 was the most successful year in the organisation's history.

As a result of 3,169 telephone calls to North-East Crimestoppers, 491 people were arrested and charged with criminal offences and 653 offences were detected.

Property valued at £16,000 and drugs with a street value of £110,000 were recovered.

So far this year, the organisation has received 2,185 calls in the North-East, 161 people have been arrested and charged, 238 offences have been detected, and £136,738 worth of property and drugs have been recovered.

A spokesman for North-East Crimestoppers said: "We have decided once again to concentrate on Class A drugs, because the bulk of our calls are about drugs, which effect a large majority of the population either directly or indirectly.

"We need the information from the public to help us bring about arrests and the recovery of drugs and property"

Anyone with information can contact Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555111.