A State Government-funded campaign announced today will turn up the heat on drug manufacturers and dealers operating across South Australia as part of a multi-pronged attack on the methamphetamine industry in the state.
Crime Stoppers SA Chair, Ms Sharon Hanlon, said the $200,000 grant would be used to directly engage the community through a range of tactics and encourage people to anonymously report information about trafficking or manufacturing of methamphetamines, ice and other illegal drugs.
“On the back of a national initiative last year, we know that that people are aware of illegal activities in their local community, are concerned about the growing ICE problem, and are prepared to play an active role in disrupting the supply of illegal drugs,” Ms Hanlon said.
“This State Government support allows us to broaden our efforts over a much larger regional spread in tandem with a more concentrated metropolitan focus designed to target known or suspected methamphetamine manufacturers, dealers and traffickers,” she said.
“Waste water analysis has suggested a 25 percent increase in use of methamphetamine over the past year in South Australia, and has tripled over a 4-year period – which is in line with the rapid rise in drug use across the nation, and cannot be left unchallenged,” she said.
Ms Hanlon said Crime Stoppers, as the trusted, independent link between the community and police, was perfectly positioned to engage the community at a grass-roots level for information from people under the assurance of anonymity.
“This campaign is not about targeting drug users. This is about achieving meaningful reductions in drug use by identifying those who are making and selling trafficable quantities of methamphetamine in South Australia; and it’s about drug users or their friends or families having the confidence to contact Crime Stoppers to report information and disrupt this insidious supply chain,” she said.
In addition to dedicated phone-in opportunities, the campaign will see posters and postcards distributed in metropolitan and regional locations, while online-specific digital content – including culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) materials – will also be developed.”
More about Crime Stoppers SA can be found at https://crimestopperssa.com.au
Anyone with information about a crime or criminal activities can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, by visiting www.crimestopperssa.com.au or downloading the free “Report Suspicious Behaviour” app for iOS and Android phones.
About Crime Stoppers SA
Crime Stoppers began in South Australia in 1996 and since then has played a critical role in encouraging people to come forward with information that helps to solve crimes, and educate on topics such as property and personal safety, vehicle theft, and cyber safety.
The program encourages people to be alert and engaged participants in their community and provides a secure way for information about illegal activity and unsolved crimes to be reported to police through a toll-free hotline and a website that guarantees anonymity with the option of a reward. Crime Stoppers SA works with police, the media and the public to solve, reduce and prevent crime.
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