'Drugs Suck the life out of communities'

Central Region Police are reminding people that drugs are not just a policing issue and are encouraging people to use the anonymous Crime Stoppers telephone hotline to provide confidential information about illicit drug use in November.

The week-long 'Dial in a Druggie' Campaign will be launched to encourage people to be proactive in attempting to reduce the problem of illicit drugs within their community.

The campaign will run between 8^th November 2010 and 14^th November 2010.

Acting Senior Sergeant Ashley Hull, Central Region Crime Prevention Coordinator said drug abuse can severely damage people's health and well being, can lead to death, wreck families, and cause social disharmony and crime.

"Drug use has been commonly linked to property related offences, offences of a violent nature including domestic violence, possession of firearms, people trafficking, prostitution and money laundering," Acting Senior Sergeant Hull said.

"Campaigns such as this one give the community the opportunity to provide information to police so that we can develop proactive and reactive strategies to target drug offenders."

Acting Senior Sergeant Ashley Hull said people often have information about drug offences but are reluctant to advise police for fear of retribution due to their identity being disclosed.  

Information can be provided anonymously to police by contacting Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.  The call is free and it is not traced or recorded.  Information can now even be provided anonymously on line at www.qld.crimestoppers.com.au.  The website offers the same protection to your identity as the telephone hotline with the IP address of the computer being removed by secure servers.

In recent months members of the public have phoned Crime Stoppers to report information about suspected clandestine drug laboratories. 

"On a number of occasions this information has led to significant discoveries, arrests of offenders and the closing down of potentially very dangerous laboratories," Acting Senior Sergeant Hull said.

"This is an opportunity for the people of the Central Region to assist in making their communities safer by working with police in the fight against drugs.  We want to know what you know, not who you are."

Anyone with information which could assist police with their investigations should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Acting Senior Sergeant Ashley Hull
Regional Crime Prevention Coordinator
Rockhampton Police Complex
Bolsover St
PO Box 221
Rockhampton  Qld  4700
Ph:  4932 3424