Members of the public are being encouraged to play a key part in a new national Crime Stoppers campaign aimed at reducing the availability of illegal drugs and putting drug dealers behind bars.

The WA part of the national ‘Dob in a Dealer’ campaign will run in partnership with the WA Police in drug hotspots around the State during the next few months.

Members of the community hold the key to cleaning up drug activity in their area by observing and reporting what they see, especially near where they live, work or travel. This initiative empowers everyone to telephone their concerns anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestopperswa.com.au.

Crime Stoppers WA CEO Kim Harrison said members of the public speak on behalf of all of us when they report suspected drug activities. “Almost all of us know people such as family members, friends or others who have been affected by drug use in some way,” he said.

“Everyone can play their part in the fight against drugs by providing local intelligence they might have about the manufacture, trafficking or supply of illicit drugs, especially ice (methamphetamine),” said Mr Harrison.

Research has found a surge in some crimes in WA due to drug use. Reporting of drug dealers will help to improve our community’s health and safety, and will lead to reduced costs and violent crime caused by drug use.

WA had the highest methamphetamine rate of use of any State, according to a National Drug Strategy Household Survey conducted in 2013. The survey found 3.8% of all people over 14 years of age had used the drug compared with the national average of 2.1%.

The Dob in a Dealer campaign is part of the Australian Government’s response to the recommendations of the National Ice Taskforce Final Report in December.

Officially launching the campaign, federal Justice Minister Michael Keenan said, “Crime Stoppers provides residents with a safe, secure and anonymous way to report those suspected of being involved with the manufacture or supply of ice and other illegal drugs.”