Crimestoppers Scotland - 0800 555 111- call anonymously with information about crime

NEW CRACKDOWN ON DEALERS – EXECUTIVE TO HAMMER THEIR ‘EVIL TRADE’

By George Glennie

Jail with 'time' for Crimestoppers - the stark messages behind the Safer Scotland Drug Dealers Don't Care Campaign are being given a high profile platform in Ayrshire. HMP Kilmarnock Prison is helping hit the message home by erecting a super-sized twelve foot banner in the car park to spell out the meaning of the hugely successful Scottish Campaign. The Scottish Executive has launched another big 'push' to keep those 'Dealers in Death' off our streets.with a massive injection of crooks' cash!

This second clampdown was ordered by Deputy Justice Minister Hugh Henry MSP following the success of the previous campaign which Crimestoppers Scotland also spearheaded.

The 12 feet tall banner with the message: Drug Dealers Don't Care where dirty needles end up. Do You?

The ‘localised’ publicity campaign which kicks off in Inverclyde and Glasgow in September is to be paid for by more money seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act. Posters, newspaper and local radio ads with the slogan “The dealers don’t care. Do you?” will ‘fix’ the public’s attention on our anonymous hotline 0800 555 111.

Mobility is the key to progress in this particular crackdown so the emphasis will be on moving round drugs hotspots with ease by using assets such as the Executive's new 50ft long Road show vehicle plus Crimestoppers Scotland's mobile exhibition units.

Deputy Justice Minister Hugh Henry MSP who chose Crimestoppers Scotland to spearhead the new crackdown on dealers.

Scotland's only professional basketball team, Scottish Rocks, will be joining forces with the only charity helping to solve crime and The Scottish Executive to voice its support for the 'Drug Dealers Don't Care. Do you?" campaign. Twilight Basketball has proved a magnet for young people, bringing families, communities and young people together.

During the last campaign which was again funded from assets seized from dealers under the Proceeds of Crime Act calls to our switchboard shot up by 430 per cent!

"We have had many examples of drug dealers being brought to justice because local people have had the courage to pick up the 'phone and tell us what they know, not who they are. So the crime world's 'Mr Bigs' be warned that action is being stepped up to stop Scotland becoming a safe haven for their activities", stressed Deputy Justice Minister Hugh Henry announcing the new crackdown.

Strengthening the campaign will be the Scottish Drugs Enforcement Agency plus leading Scots politicians like David Cairns, MP for Inverclyde who said:

"I know from talking to people at my surgeries that they are keen to report drug dealing in their communities, and that's where Crimestoppers comes in. You can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 and shop a drug dealer without anyone ever knowing your identity. Crimestoppers don't trace calls or ask for names and addresses, so there is no way that local dealers can find out who gave the information."

"It's an ideal way for local people to fight back against the drug pushers. These characters don't care how much damage they do to our communities or how many lives they ruin, and they rely on a climate of fear and silence to operate. Crimestoppers helps break through that and gives people in Inverclyde a means to defend their streets without fear of reprisals."

Duncan McNeil MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde added:

"The fact is that Crimestoppers works. Together with police forces and the Scottish Executive, Crimestoppers Scotland helped arrest 175 Drug Dealers this spring and saw its call numbers rocket to over 1,000 a month. I would therefore urge anyone with information about a crime to call Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555 111. You'll be doing yourself and your community a favour."

Duncan McNeil MSP & David Cairns MP

We will be carrying in our suite of publications including our new website as the latest crackdown rolls out across the hardest hit areas of the country. Watch this space.

Anti drugs? Anti dote – Call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Tell us what you know, not who you are.

One call can cuff them!