In the hunt for the killer of 9-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel in Liverpool, charity Crimestoppers now offers a record £200,000 reward, thanks to new donation

  • 21 September, 2022
  • Philanthropy

Press Release at 1430hrs on 21 September 2022.

The huge increase is made possible by Crimestoppers founder Lord Ashcroft, matching the sum offered by a new private donor as a renewed appeal is launched for anonymous information.  

The charity Crimestoppers, which provides a vital service enabling people who might otherwise stay silent to speak up anonymously, is today offering a new reward of up to £200,000 for information that leads to the conviction of those responsible for the murder of Olivia Pratt-Korbel.

Olivia, who was just 9 years old, was shot dead by a gunman who had forced his way into a property in Dovecot, Liverpool on Monday, 22 August 2022. Her mother, 46-year-old Cheryl, sustained injuries during the shooting whilst trying to protect her young daughter from harm.

Last week, the founder of Crimestoppers, Lord Ashcroft, offered £50,000 which he has now doubled to match a £100,000 donation from a new, public-spirited private donor to make a total of £200,000.

This is the biggest single reward offer in the history of charity Crimestoppers.

Crimestoppers takes vital information about crime completely anonymously, meaning personal details of people contacting them are never asked for or stored. Over 1,500 people contact the charity every single day, reassured by the safe, alternative option to pass on what they know without any comeback.

***The charity Crimestoppers – which is independent of the police – is supporting the investigation by offering a new combined reward of up to £200,000 for anonymous information it exclusively receives via its website Crimestoppers-uk.org or by phone on 0800 555 111 that leads to the conviction of the person or people responsible for Olivia Pratt-Korbel’s murder***

Lord Ashcroft, founder and Chair of charity Crimestoppers, said: “This case has been incredibly shocking, not just for those who are directly affected, but also for Liverpool and the nation as a whole. I am delighted that with the support of a private donor, Crimestoppers can now offer a record £200,000 for information to catch Olivia’s killer. A precious young life has been lost so we need every effort to find those involved in this appalling killing.”

Mark Hallas, Chief Executive at the charity Crimestoppers, said: “If you know who killed Olivia, please search your conscience and ask yourself, if Olivia was your daughter, relative or friend, what would you want to happen? I think you know the answer would be to see justice – justice for Olivia, her family and all those who are heartbroken after this tragedy.

“If you’re too scared to speak to the police, please remember that our charity, Crimestoppers, is here to help you do the right thing. Tell Crimestoppers what you know whilst staying completely anonymous. Please understand: Crimestoppers has kept its promise to protect your identity since we started back in the late 1980s. You can contact us via our website or call our UK Contact Centre on 0800 555 111. Details about how to claim this reward are available online.

“When you contact Crimestoppers we never ask for or store personal details. All we ask is that you tell us what you know about who killed Olivia so that there can be some slow healing for her mother, her family, the city of Liverpool and everyone who has been touched by this truly awful murder.”

Please note: Computer IP addresses are never traced, and no-one will ever know you contacted Crimestoppers. No personal details are asked for or stored.
For telephone calls, there is no caller line display, no 1471 facility and calls have never been traced. The charity is completely independent of the police and guarantees your personal identity will always be protected.

***Information passed directly to police will not qualify for a reward. Only information given exclusively to the charity Crimestoppers via the 0800 555 111 number or the simple and secure anonymous online form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org will qualify***

More information about how to claim a reward is available here.

Read more on Crimesetoppers.org.uk

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