Help tackle drugs: rat on a rat

That’s the message from local councillors and community safety chiefs ahead of fresh efforts to get local residents to shop drug dealing neighbours.

The ‘rat on a rat’ message will be featuring in local media and on posters and flyers in residential areas across the borough this month.

Residents can help put drug dealers behind bars by ringing Crimestoppers’ free, anonymous hotline on 0800 555 111.

Councillor Keith Cunliffe, council cabinet member and chair of the Wigan & Leigh Community Safety Partnership says:

“Thousands of people all over the country have phoned Crimestoppers to ‘rat on a rat’ since the national campaign was launched five years ago – we’d like people here to do the same.

“Drug dealing at street level affects the quality of life for many local residents. We have seen how the abuse of drugs can bring misery not only to the user, but also family, friends and the wider community.

“There is also a strong link between the misuse of drugs and crime. A large proportion of police time is taken up with domestic burglary, car crime and retail crime committed by drug users in an attempt to fund their habit and this affects many people in the borough.

Divisional Police Chief Superintendent, Lee Bruckshaw adds:

“We want to crack down on drug dealers and ensure that they are arrested and convicted, and ultimately ensure the drugs market is disrupted. The information gathered will assist my officers in targeting drug dealers and those who supply dealers"

The community safety partners ask residents to look out for the following signs of drug dealing:

• high number of visitors to one property,
• visitors stopping for short periods
• individuals approaching parked cars for short periods,
• drug ‘litter’ such as needles and syringes found close to a suspected location,
• excessive noise or rowdy incidents near a suspected location.

Crimestoppers needs the following information from callers:

• names and descriptions of people involved,
• suspected locations,
• other useful information, for example car registration numbers.

Sue Arden from Crimestoppers says;

“This campaign is all about reaching out to those who have information on the perpetrators of drug dealing, but who do not wish to be identified. We wish to encourage those people to call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, safe in the knowledge that nobody will ask for their name and their call be not be traced or recorded. They can make a real difference to their environment whilst remaining anonymous.”

Anybody wanting help with a drug or alcohol problem can ring Wigan & Leigh Drug and Alcohol Services on 0800 389 4463.

Residents can report any drug litter, needles or syringes, to Wigan Council’s Environmental Services Helpline on 01942 404364 or email: eshelpline@wigan.gov.uk

Visit the Tackling Drugs changing lives page for more information and to download the rat on a rat leaflet.