Police from Wagga Wagga Local Area Command (LAC) have thanked the community for their ongoing support during the recent ‘Dob in a Dealer’ campaign.
The Commonwealth-funded campaign is currently being conducted in States and Territories across Australia.
While members of the public are urged to report any prohibited-drug activity via Crime Stoppers; ‘Dob in a Dealer’ is targeting the manufacture, supply and use of ‘ice’ (crystal methylamphetamine) in the community.
‘Dob in a Dealer’ was promoted across Wagga Wagga Local Area Command between Monday 1 August 2016 and Sunday 14 August 2016.
Police and Crime Stoppers conducted intensive community-engagement activities at locations across the command, encouraging members of the public to report information about prohibited drugs.
Over the course of the campaign and in the weeks that followed, Crime Stoppers received a number of Information Reports from the community relating to possible drug activity in the local area.
Wagga Wagga Local Area Commander, Superintendent Bob Noble, thanked the community for getting behind the ‘Dob in a Dealer’ campaign.
“During the campaign we received 23 Information Reports via Crime Stoppers about suspected drug activity across our command, all of which will now undergo further investigation,” Supt Noble said.
“This campaign was about reaching out to members of the public to enable a whole-of-community approach in effectively tackling the scourge of ‘ice’.
“That’s why it was so positive to see the information getting through to people and the calls coming in with valuable intelligence, and I thank each and every person for making that effort,” Supt Noble said.
“We will continue to do everything we can do reduce the availability of ‘ice’ and minimise the harm it can cause to our community, but we cannot do this alone.
“Never underestimate the important role you can play in helping us track down and arrest those involved in manufacturing and distributing ‘ice’ across our neighbourhoods – your phone call could make an enormous difference.”
Crime Stoppers NSW CEO, Peter Price, said people who live and work within Wagga Wagga Local Area Command can still report information confidentially and anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestoppers.com.au.
“While the campaign has come to a close in Wagga Wagga LAC, the issue of illegal drugs has not – and we urge the community to continue reporting drug-dealing or drug-manufacturing activity to Crime Stoppers,” Mr Price said.
“We’re calling on members of the public to step up and stamp out ‘ice’ in their community – together we can affect real change.
“Calls made to Crime Stoppers are directed to a state-wide call centre and they’re completely confidential. You do not have to identify yourself and you will not be compelled to participate for a court case,” Mr Price said.
“Most importantly, every piece of information you provide can help solve crimes and reduce drug supply – so if you know something, say something.”
In NSW, the ‘Dob in a Dealer’ campaign is being held in 21 metropolitan and regional LACs over a six-month period between March and September 2016.
The campaign runs in each command for two weeks, during which local officers and Crime Stoppers representatives host a number of activities to inform local residents of how they can take part and show their support.