The national Dob in a Dealer campaign could raise awareness of drug use in local areas, according to Collie police.
Launched on May 24, the campaign targets the manufacture, distribution and use of methamphetamine and ice.
The initiative is designed to encourage community members to contact Crime Stoppers with information.
Collie acting Officer in Charge Terry Townsend said the program would greatly support police investigations.
“If we can find out who is dealing with drugs we can action it and if we get sufficient enough we can actually charge the offenders and obviously reduce the amount of troubles that are in the community,” he said.
“It effects all the offences that go around and people having to commit crimes in order to fund their drug habits.”
Mr Townsend said the public plays a vital role in the apprehension and conviction of drug dealers in the community.
“Even if they have got a little bit of information, let us know and obviously it all adds up – it’s like a jigsaw puzzle and lots of pieces make a big picture,” he said.
“If we get lots of little bits of information, whether you think it’s relevant or not, it might be part of a bigger picture and we’ll be able to collate that together and action it.”
Mr Townsend said Collie police have been working effectively to apprehend drug dealers and users.
“I’ve only been here a matter of weeks, and the amount of drug apprehensions that we’ve had recently has been very high at the moment,” he said.
“It’s definitely a problem in the community, but we’re doing very well in apprehending the drug dealers that we’ve got in town or people not only dealing drugs but have been possessing and using drugs.
“The guys have done a really good job over the past couple of weeks that I’ve been here, but the amount of drugs in the community is very high.”
Member for Forrest Nola Marino MP said drug-related crime continues to impact South West police due to the links between drug offenders and people committing other violent crimes.
“Drugs such as ice can have devastating consequences for entire communities, and putting a stop to it will require a whole of community response, police can’t do it alone,” she said.
“This is a vital campaign in Australia’s fight against ice, but its level of success will be reliant on the local intelligence Crime Stoppers receives.
“I urge all residents to say enough is enough and to rid our streets, parks and neighbourhoods of criminals profiteering from the misery of ice, by undermining any criminal business models operating in our local area.”
Mrs Marino said the State Government has committed $300 million over four years to improve treatment, after care, education, prevention, support and community engagement relating to drug offences.
If you have information, call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestoppers.com.au.
