Crimestoppers has proved a major success in the Thames Valley with 140 people arrested and charged as a result of calls to the Kidlington centre last year.

Members of the public made 1,062 calls to the centre, a big rise on the previous year, when 870 calls were received with 75 people arrested and charged.

Last year, drug-related crime resulted in the highest number of calls - 28 per cent of the total number and 40 per cent of arrests and charges.

Seventeen per cent of calls and 29 per cent of arrests and charges were for driving while disqualified or under the influence of drink or drugs, making it the second largest category.

So far this year, the hotline has already received 276 calls, including 92 last month, which has led to 41 people being arrested and charged with offences including arson, assault and criminal damage.

The figures also show that since the Thames Valley branch of the national scheme was launched in April 1999, Oxford police has received 160 actionable calls, which have led to 17 arrests and charges.

South Oxfordshire sector had 128 calls, with 21 people arrested and charged, and North Oxfordshire sector had 155 calls, with 18 people arrested and charged.

Thames Valley Crimestoppers have released a list of some crimes solved through information given to their confidential hotline last year, but exact locations of the offences are not publicised for confidentiality reasons.

These include:

*A person being charged with attempted murder after being named following the shooting of a shopkeeper

*Computer child pornography

*A 13-year-old named as responsible for vandalism at a local school

*Supply of drugs to a prison inmate

*A couple shoplifting and stealing charity boxes

*Information on constant use of cars by disqualified drivers

A Crimestoppers spokesman said: "Crimestoppers information frequently prevents a crime or leads to the solution of a problem, without an arrest and charge necessarily following.

"A small snippet of information can often be the missing piece required to complete the picture."

The spokesman said working in partnership had been a priority for the organisation in 2000, and had led to closer links with Community Safety Partnerships, Fire and Rescue services and district councils.

The free, confidential Crimestoppers number is 0800 555 111.