MINISTER CURRAN EXTENDS DIAL TO STOP DRUG DEALING PHONE LINE TO END OF 2009

Dialing To Stop Drug Dealing – The Impact So Far

In May 2009 we launched the final 5 campaigns in Bray, Finglas/Cabra, Wicklow, Midlands and Dunlaoghaire/Rathdown and now all 15 local and regional campaigns have been run. The last five promotional campaigns ended late June. John Curran T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs has extended the phone line for the campaign until the end of the year.

We are delighted to announce that in July the campaign was evaluated in full with a set of recommendations made.Dial to Stop Drug Dealing has been operating since last October in communities in Dublin, Kildare, Cork, Limerick, Kerry, Waterford, Wexford, Carlow, Wicklow and the Midlands.

Here are some really interesting facts and figures that have come out of the campaign so far:

• Over a staggering 5,500 calls have been received to mid November 09
• June 2009 was a record month for calls 739
• Over an amazing 1,500 reports have been sent to the Gardaí
• 63% of calls are made between 11am and 5pm
• Most calls are made mid week
• There is an increase in calls made around the reporting of drug related murders
• There have been many Section 10 and Section 3 seizures
  

What is Dial to Stop Drug Dealing?
Drug dealing is a serious problem affecting an ever increasing number of communities, both rural and urban, around Ireland.  Apart from the destructive impact of drug use on individuals in the community, this drug dealing also impacts severely on the lives of those not involved in drug taking -  from the father of the drug addict in debt to dealers to the woman who lives in fear of the drugs turf war being played out on her street.
One of the biggest barriers to dealing effectively with drug dealers big and small is the use of intimidation to prevent people from reporting this most serious crime.

Dial to Stop Drug Dealing is an initiative to tackle drug dealing in local communities around Ireland.  It provides a safe, confidential and completely anonymous way for individuals to pass on information on drug dealing in their local community.  The individual is never asked for their name, their address or any other information which might identify them.  They can rest assured that the person answering their call will not know them and will not recognise their voice. The information gathered is passed on directly to An Garda Síochána.

Who is Behind the Initiative?
Dial to Stop Drug Dealing was originally an initiative of the National Drugs Strategy Team. The National Drugs Strategy Team (NDST) was a cross-departmental team from Departments and Agencies involved in the drugs field.  In April 2009, The NDST was dissolved and the overall coordination of the project was transferred to The Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.

The Dial to Stop Drug Dealing initiative is funded by the Dormant Accounts Fund, the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The initiative is also supported by An Garda Síochána and the Health Service Executive.

The initiative was and is successfully rolled out in a number of local and regional drug task force areas in three phases:

Phase One areas included Tallaght, Blanchardstown, Co Kildare (Celbridge, Naas, Athy and Newbridge), Dublin North East area (including Coolock, Donaghmede, Kilbarrack, Clarehall, Clonshaugh and Howth) and Dublin's North Inner City.

Phase Two areas included Cork City, Kerry (Tralee), Limerick, Dublin North, South East (Waterford, Wexford and Carlow)

Phase Three areas included Dunlaoghaire/Rathdown, Bray, Wicklow (East Coast), Midlands, Finglas/Cabra