Updated at 9.10pm

ATTEMPTED MURDER, ONLINE sex offences and drug dealing are just some of the criminal activities tackled by information given to Crimestoppers.

On average 138 calls were made to the confidential service each month last year.

Calls about drug offences are among the most common and €25,000 worth of heroin, cocaine and cannabis herb were seized in Leinster last year on foot of calls to Crimestoppers.

Evidence from an attempted murder was also recovered which allowed vital forensic evidence to be secured.

Assistant Garda Commissioner Derek Byrne said, “We receive information and analyse it and put it with information we already have available.

It’s like filling in a jigsaw, you get valuable information from the public.

He said the information comes from ‘right through the country- not just cities but rural areas too’.

Colm Mahady / Fennells Colm Mahady / Fennells / Fennells

The annual report for Crimestoppers also showed that as a result of the calls a man was arrested for internet-based sexual offences, a viable firearm was seized and arrests were made for fraudulent selling of electronic goods.

An individual wanted on an outstanding warrant and road traffic offences was also arrested.

A Crimestoppers spokesperson said: “Callers to Crimestoppers can rest assured that the information they provide will be dealt with in the strictest of confidence.

I would encourage anyone with information they feel would be useful to Gardai to call the Freephone number. Their call can make a real difference to tackling crime and criminals operating in their locality.

The free service is open to the public from 9am until 9pm every day. Calls are answered by Gardai but people don’t have to leave their names or address.

The Crimestoppers’ freephone number is 1800 250025.

“No-one will ever know you that you have called. You do not need to leave your name and address,” the message on the site’s homepage says.

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