Curry fans got together at popular Leicester city restaurant Chutney Ivy last night to raise funds for UK based charity Crimestoppers.
The event was organised by Pukaar News and was sold out making it a massive success before the night even started.
Host Kamlesh Purohit, Assistant Editor for BBC Radio Leicester, took centre stage to welcome the diverse array of guests to the venue and to continue to entertain and progress the events throughout the evening.
David Hunter, Regional Manager of Leicestershire for Crimestoppers UK, delivered a speech that informed guests of how Crimestoppers started in the UK and how it has progressed.
“Crimestoppers was formed in the UK in 1985 when PC Keith Blakelock was murdered during the Broadwater Farm riots in London,” he said. “Founder Lord Ashcroft offered the police reward money for whoever would come forward with information.
“The charity was set up so that the public can come forward with information to a trusted charity anonymously if they do not wish to go immediately to the police. Overall, Crimestoppers have handed over 1 million pieces of vital information to the police, and everyone has always attained anonymity.”
Last year Crimestoppers UK heard from 300,000 people, sent 111,510 reports to the police, took action on 98,174 crimes and solved and prevented 19,534 crimes. They also managed to take £1.5 million drugs off of the streets thanks to anonymous sources.
Assistant City Mayor Manjula Sood also gave a speech, where she congratulated Romail Gulzar, Chair of Leicestershire and Rutland for Crimestoppers UK, on his one year anniversary in the role which was on the day of the event. She also congratulated him on being the first Asian chair.
She said: “I’d like to congratulate Crimestoppers on the valuable and excellent work that they do to bring safety to citizens in Leicestershire. Crimestoppers help the police to catch criminals more and more and they help them to prosecute criminals from the reports that they give from anonymous sources. Everything being anonymous really helps.”
Chutney Ivy served an array of starters and mains throughout the night. The packed out restaurant was a warm bubble of smiling faces and diversity, filled with local businesses, the general public and people of all faiths.
Entertainment was provided by Miss England 2015 winner Natasha Hemmings who sang extra-ordinarily for the audience at the start of the night.
Natasha’s performances were followed by two-time Leicester’s Got Talent winner Lydia Unsudimi who also entertained audiences by performing stunning renditions of three songs.
Guests at the event were incredibly generous participating not only in the night but also in a raffle prize draw which helped to raise extra money. The love for the Leicester community could be felt throughout the room and it filled the welcoming restaurant with colour and warmth.
Overall £1000 was raised by Pukaar News for the Crimestoppers UK charity; the money raised will help the charity in fighting even more crime in the region
Romail Gulzar, Chairman for Leicestershire and Rutland Crimestoppers said, “The evening would not have been possible, if it were not for the generosity of the guests, the support of local businesses and all the hard work the team put in, in organising the event.”
If you know of any crimes, please call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
