BOSSES at the Southern Crimestoppers charity today reassured callers their anonymity would be guaranteed following a misleading storyline in a television detective series.

The pledge followed an episode of Granada Television's drama Prime Suspect, which showed Det Supt Jane Tennyson, played by Helen Mirren, listening to a recording of a call made to Crimestoppers.

Police were shown tracing the call and then using it to influence a reluctant witness.

It was the turning point of the two-part series, which attracted a massive audience earlier this week.

Now those in charge of the Southern Crimestoppers hotline, which allows people to pass information to police anonymously, have criticised the way the organisation was portrayed.

Simon Theobalds, who chairs Crimestoppers in Hampshire, said: "Millions of viewers will have been left with the impression that calls to Crimestoppers are recorded and can be traced.

"This could not be further from the truth and totally destroys the protection of anonymity which is the key to Crimestoppers success. It is a pity that a drama that seeks to be so realistic has resorted to dramatic licence for the sake of the plot."

Today the head of Hampshire CID also issued a reassurance. Det Chief Supt Steve Watts said: "As an organisation, we are totally supportive of Crimestoppers and the important work they do in contributing to criminal investigations.

"Hampshire Constabulary would not seek to identify, by any means, anyone who rings the anonymous Crimestoppers line."

Southern Crimestoppers calls are handled in Brighton by specially trained staff whose equipment has had trace facilities specially removed.

They are the only Crimestoppers call centre in England working 24 hours a day, and currently handle more than 30,000 calls a year from Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Kent, Sussex and Surrey.

A Granada Television spokeswoman said: "The anonymity of the service was stressed at the beginning of the call but dramatic licence was taken with recording the call and requesting the caller's contact details.

"The production has since spoken to Crimestoppers and reassurances have been made that forthcoming dramas will portray the service as totally anonymous."