The parents of Sarah Payne have called on the public to do more to help the police catch criminals.

Michael and Sara Payne made the plea as they launched a poster campaign for Crimestoppers, with a freephone line for the public to report crime anonymously.

Sarah, eight, disappeared on July 1 last year while playing with her brothers Lee, 14, and Luke, 12, and sister Charlotte, seven, not far from her grandparents' home near East Preston, Littlehampton.

Her body was found near the A29 outside Pulborough, 16 days later.

Mr and Mrs Payne yesterday helped launch Crimestoppers Week to encourage more people to report crime.

The Southern Regional Board of Crimestoppers was today launching a 24-hour staffed service - the first of its kind in mainland Britain.

A survey of people living in Sussex revealed that 65 per cent of residents believe Britain is now a more dangerous place to live than it was ten years ago.

However, this is below the national response of 76 per cent.

The crimes people fear most in Sussex are burglary, car crime and threatening behaviour from young people.

But despite an increased fear of crime, some 18 per cent of people are unwilling to report it, often through fear of revenge attacks.

A spokesman for Crimestoppers said: "The theme of the week is to get the public to report crime.

"Many victims of crime are those least willing to report it, often because they are afraid.

"But with an anonymous call to Crimestoppers they can, without fear, improve the quality of their lives and their neighbourhood, as well as reducing the suffering of those affected by crime."

Between January and July this year, Crimestoppers received more than 36,000 calls, which resulted in 2,955 people being arrested and charged.

Roy Whiting, 42, of Littlehampton, has pleaded not guilty to the kidnap and murder of Sarah Payne.