The regional Victoria Dob in a Dealer campaign has been lauded a success by Crime Stoppers Victoria chief Samantha Hunter and Minister for Justice Michael Keenan. Both have been essential to the national initiative launch. Targeting ice stricken communities across the country, Crime Stoppers’ Dob in a Dealer campaign calls on communities to come together in the fight against ice.

Localised statistics revealed a significant spike in the number of reports about illicit drug dealing and supply during the two-week Ballarat Dob-in-a-Dealer campaign last year. 

During the two-week campaign, Crime Stoppers received a 200 per cent spike in the number of community information reports about possible drug activity in Ballarat and surrounding towns, including Avoca, Beaufort, Learmonth and Lexton.

In 2016, 17 Dob in a Dealer campaigns will run throughout Victoria. More than 70 will run across Australia.

Ms Hunter said a further $1 million had been committed to the program.

“In 2015 we visited 15 regional and rural towns with the Dob in a Dealer campaign,” said Ms Hunter.

“We know there are communities out there struggling with ice, and it’s the members of those communities who hold the key to helping stop the devastation that ice wreaks on families and individuals.”

“It’s encouraging to see that our initiative here in Victoria has gained national recognition.

“Any piece of information, no matter how small, can assist police in identifying who is manufacturing or dealing in ice in your community,” said Ms Hunter.

“People often know who the dealers are in their local area, but they should also be on the look-out for suspicious activity, such as high volumes of people visiting one residence. If you see something, say something”.

At the 2015 program launch Ballarat Police Superintendent Andrew Allen encouraged residents to make the call.  “All information will be assessed accordingly ... We will endeavour to, hopefully, cut off the supply (of ice) into Ballarat and surrounding areas,” he said.