Pubdate: Fri, 23 Nov 2007
Source: Herald, The (UK)
Copyright: 2007 The Western Morning News Co. Ltd
Contact:  http://thisisplymouth.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4406
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?207 (Cannabis - United Kingdom)

RAT ON A RAT: CALL TO TURN IN DRUG DEALERS

People in Plymouth are being asked to turn in drug dealers in a new 
campaign being launched by Devon and Cornwall Police.

Plymouth residents are being asked to 'Rat on a Rat' and help put 
drug dealers behind bars.

Devon & Cornwall Constabulary, Crimestoppers, Plymouth & South West 
Co-op and Plymouth Against Retail Crime (PARC) have joined forces to 
launch the operation aimed at clamping down on drug-related crime.

Chief Superintendent Jim Webster said: "Drug-related crime can have a 
detrimental impact on a community. Through this Rat on a Rat campaign 
we want to crack-down on drug dealers and ensure they are arrested 
and convicted and to ultimately ensure the drugs market is disrupted. 
If anyone within Plymouth has information relating to the use and 
supply of drugs contact Crimestoppers straight away so we can help 
make your communities safer."

The operation is being run in conjunction with Crimestoppers to 
enable callers to remain anonymous and give confidential information 
through the freephone telephone number 0800 555111.

Mr Bob Widdecombe, chairman of Devon and Cornwall Crimestoppers 
Trust, said: "Our guarantee of anonymity encourages those who may be 
frightened to come forward to do so without fear. This aspect is 
vital for those who fear reprisals against themselves or their families."

Plymouth & South West Co-op has recently donated UKP10,000 to the 
Devon & Cornwall Crimestoppers Trust to fund their work in the region 
and is supporting the Rat on a Rat Campaign in conjunction with PARC.

Douglas Fletcher, Chief Executive, Plymouth & South West Co-op and 
Board Director of Devon & Cornwall Crimestoppers Trust said: "As a 
local retailer we recognise the devastating impact drug related crime 
can have on our community and on our business. Despite investing 
UKP500,000 in CCTV systems and having a team of 14 security officers 
we are seeing an increase in shop-lifting, robberies and most 
worryingly verbal and physical assaults on store staff. We want to 
raise awareness of these issues and improve safety in our stores for 
our staff and customers as well as reducing the impact of drug 
related crime on the community."

Rat on a Rat posters will be displayed across Plymouth.

Paul Martin, Retail Crime Manager, Plymouth Against Retail Crime 
(PARC) said: "We fully support the Rat on a Rat initiative and are 
pleased to support Crimestoppers and Plymouth & South West Co-op, 
which has always shown a commitment to tackling crime. To ensure shop 
staff and the general public are made fully aware of this campaign 
PARC will deliver 500+ posters and stickers to PARC businesses 
throughout Plymouth. In addition, to raise awareness, PARC, together 
with the Council's car park division will display campaign posters in 
Plymouth's car parks. With over 80 per cent of retail crime being 
committed by shoplifters with drug addiction it is in everyone's 
interest to report incidents where they prefer to retain anonymity 
direct to Crimestoppers. PARC believes that this operation by 
Crimestoppers will undoubtedly help reduce retail crime in our city 
and ensure we continue to look after the safety of shop staff, 
shoppers and visitors to Plymouth."

Plymouth police are hoping to repeat the success of a similar 
campaign, which was run in the city in 2003.

During the three-month campaign in 2003, 275 arrests were made and 
opportunist crime committed to feed drug habits - such as house and 
car break-ins and shop lifting - dropped by 30 per cent.

The arrests were based on some 400 calls made to Crimestoppers by the 
public. During the campaign, UKP73,840 worth of drugs was seized. 
Much of this was cannabis but at least UKP17,000 worth of the haul 
was Class A drugs. Stolen property worth around "10,000 was also 
recovered, along with UKP17,400 cash. o
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake