A new, state-wide campaign aimed at mobilising members of the public in the fight against prohibited drugs has arrived in Barwon Local Area Command (LAC) – and already recorded its first success, NSW Police say.
The “Dob in a Dealer” campaign has been funded by the Commonwealth Government, and is currently taking place in states and territories across Australia.
In NSW, the campaign is being held in 21 LACs across the state over a six-month period between March and September 2016. The campaign runs for two weeks in each location.
While the focus of the campaign is the drug “ice” (crystal methylamphetamine), members of the public are encouraged to report any prohibited-drug activity.
This is exactly what happened when police from Barwon Local Area Command kicked off their “Dob in a Dealer” campaign at the monthly markets in Moree yesterday morning yesterday.
About 4pm, as a result of a tip-off from a member of the public at this event, police executed a search warrant at a residence in Moree.
During the search, police seized prohibited drugs and drug paraphernalia, along with allegedly stolen property.
Police anticipate issuing a 36-year-old man with a future service court attendance for drug and property offences.
“We are very pleased by the early success of the campaign in this local area command, and hope it continues over the next two weeks and beyond,” Barwon LAC Commander, Superintendent Paul McDonald, said.
“As we demonstrated yesterday, if you provide information to police, we will act on it swiftly and take appropriate measures against offenders,” he said.
“While the information in this case was reported directly to police, we want to stress people can also tell us what they know via Crime Stoppers – where they can remain anonymous.
“Barwon is one of the largest and most remote LACs served by NSW Police, and we simply cannot patrol every square kilometre, every minute of the day.
“So we are asking the community to help us. Our best weapons in the fight against drugs like ‘ice’ are the eyes and the ears of the people who live here.
“Tell us what you know; even the smallest piece of information can make a big difference in a police investigation,” Supt McDonald said.
For example, in September 2012, a single, anonymous call to Crime Stoppers led to State Crime Command’s Asian Crime Squad – now known as the Organised Crime Squad – seizing 585 kilos of “ice” a few months later in February 2013.
Data from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research illustrate the burgeoning “ice” (crystal methylamphetamine) problem.
In the 36 months to September 2015, arrests for amphetamine possession soared by 75.3 per cent across NSW (up from 5,063 in 2013 to 8,876 in 2015).
Over the same time period, arrests for dealing/trafficking amphetamines in NSW increased 34 per cent (from 1,567 in 2013 to 2,099 in 2015).
There has also been a steady increase in the number of clandestine drug laboratories detected by police in NSW. In 2008 there were 55; by last year this had jumped to 106.
Crime Stoppers NSW CEO, Peter Price, said halting the spread of “ice” and other drugs requires a whole-of-community response.
“Crime Stoppers is committed to working with NSW Police, community leaders, local residents and the media to gather anonymous information that can help to reduce drug supply and drug-related crimes,” Mr Price said.
“We’re taking this campaign across NSW, and asking everyone to join us in the fight against ‘ice’ and other drugs.
“We want members of the public to play an active role and tell us about criminals who are bringing harmful drugs into their region.
“Making a report to Crime Stoppers is completely confidential. You will never be identified or called up for a court case, but every piece of information you provide can help solve crimes and reduce supply,” Mr Price said.
If you think you have information about someone in your community who is manufacturing or supplying drugs, call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 for a confidential conversation or report securely online at www.crimestoppers.com.au.
Please find below a schedule of the local area commands involved in the campaign, including their proposed start dates. This schedule is subject to change. To confirm dates and discuss proposed media activities in each command, please contact NSW Police Media Officer Siobhan McMahon via the NSW Police Media Unit on (02) 8263 6100.
“Dob in a Dealer” Community Engagement Calendar
14 March 2016: Redfern
21 March 2016: Orana
28 March 2016: Sydney City
11 April 2016: Castlereagh
11 April 2016: Liverpool
26 April 2016: Campbelltown
2 May 2016: Barwon
9 May 2016: Wollongong
23 May 2016: Richmond
30 May 2016: Shoalhaven
13 June 2016: Tweed/Byron
20 June 2016: The Hume
4 July 2016: Coffs/Clarence
11 July 2016: Albury
18 July 2016: Mid North Coast
1 August 2016: Wagga Wagga
8 August 2016: Oxley
22 August 2016: Griffith
29 August 2016: Newcastle City
12 September 2016: Canobolas
19 September 2016: Blacktown
Crime Stoppers is focused on gathering information to stop the supply and manufacture of drugs. If you or someone you know is affected by drug use or addiction, please contact support services such as the Alcohol and Drug Information Service on (02) 9361 8000.
