Wellington, Oct 12 NZPA - Police say a new anonymous tip line will see more crime reported and crims arrested.

The Crimestoppers phone line service would help police and other law enforcement agencies, Police Commissioner Howard Broad said.

It was independent of government, police and other law enforcement agencies.

"Information flow is the lifeblood of policing and experience in the United Kingdom has shown Crimestoppers is very successful in helping police to identify both crimes and criminals," Mr Broad said.

"The Crimestoppers' guarantee of anonymity provides a way for people to feel safe about passing on what they know, so we're likely to receive information of a type we haven't had before and from people who would not normally come forward."

He encouraged people who were willing to be identified to continue to approach police directly.

"Crimestoppers does not detract from the general public duty to help police by giving information directly as informants or witnesses and we have a long and successful history of the public coming forward to do that," Mr Broad said.

People should continue to call 111 in emergencies and *555 to report traffic matters, while non-urgent crime should be reported to local police stations.

From 4pm today people can call the new number 0800 555111 or submit an encrypted on-line form via www.crimestoppers-nz.org.

Police Minister Judith Collins and British Lord Michael Ashcroft were to attend today's launch of the initiative in Auckland.

Lord Ashcroft established a Crimestoppers line in Britain in 1998 which has led to more than 80,000 arrests in Britain, paying rewards in some cases.

His $200,000 reward led to the return of 96 war medals stolen from Waiouru Army Museum in 2007.