A Dutch hotline which people can use to report crimes anonymously has attracted more callers than last year. The public broadcaster NOS says in the first six months of 2009, over 6800 serious tips were received by Meld Misdaad Anoniem (Anonymous Crime Report), 500 more than in the same period in 2008.

The number of calls about missing persons, murder, manslaughter and hold-ups increased, as did reports of arms possession, wanted criminals and kidnappings.

The tips have enabled the police to arrest around 600 suspects. They include three people suspected of a serious assault in the eastern town of Deventer, and a couple from Hoofddorp who smuggled 62 Filipino women into the country.