Daily drug dealer dob-in

Police in the region received more than 350 calls with tip-offs about drug dealing during the Dob in a Dealer campaign — an average of about a call a day.

Crime Stoppers WA chief executive Dr Vince Hughes described the response as a “great outcome”.

The 364 reports were made between September and April during the campaign, which encouraged people with information on the manufacturing, growing or selling of drugs in their area to contact Crime Stoppers.

Mid West Gascoyne District Superintendent Roger Beer said he hoped to see the tip-offs continue, saying drugs posed a big threat to safety and community harmony.

“Drug dealers do not care about you or your children, they are driven by their own greed,” Supt Beer said.

“Communities play a vital role in the ability of police to identify and disrupt the supply of drugs.

“Focus on illicit drugs supply, particularly methylamphetamine, is about making our communities safer places for everyone.

“Any piece of information can help police in the fight against drugs and if you know something, please say something.

In WA, 6400 people dobbed in a dealer, contributing to more than 47,000 reports nationwide.

Dr Hughes said the campaign proved people were willing to help authorities quash the drug trade.

“Having regard to the anonymity promise and ongoing investigations, it is difficult to say how many of those reports led to a direct arrest,” Dr Hughes said.

“What we can say though is that they provided police crime analysts with a richer picture of drug dealing methodologies and connections in the area. They were also instrumental in opening up a number of lines of inquiry.”

In the 2017-18 financial year, Mid West Gascoyne police investigated 1696 drug offences, 94.8 per cent of which were successfully prosecuted in court.

Anyone with information about criminal activity can call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a report online at www.crimestopperswa.com.au.