AN arresting crime fighting plan by Frankston police asking drug dealers to dob in competitors was quickly dropped last week.
Police uploaded a message to its Frankston Eyewatch page on Facebook last Wednesday (13 April) offering to “eliminate” competition from rival drug dealers.
A form to be completed and sent to Frankston police station naming drug dealers and listing their names, contact numbers and addresses was provided by police on Facebook.
“Is your drug dealing competition costing you money? Would you like to eliminate that problem?” the form asked.
“We can take your competition off the streets FOR FREE!!! Report your competition to us … we are happy to help!!!”
The short-lived police operation came to an abrupt end mere hours after its launch.
“Local Frankston police put the post on their Eyewatch page with the hope it would grab attention from members of the public and increase the amount of intelligence they have on drug dealing,” Victoria Police media unit Inspector Ian Geddes said.
“Upon reflection police removed it from the page. Despite that, they are still keen to get information to help them remove drugs and drug dealers from the streets.”
When asked Mr Geddes said the short-lived ‘Dealer dob in a Dealer’ campaign had not produced any results.
“No. It didn’t.”
The wording of the offer by Frankston police marked “ATTENTION DRUG DEALERS” in capital letters was lifted from a US police force’s advert placed in a Texas newspaper the Lumberton Ledger last year.
The wording on the ad has since been amended and localised by police forces around the world and seemingly posted as a joke via official law enforcement social media channels.
Crime Stoppers is running an official ‘Dob in a Dealer’ campaign asking people to report information about those manufacturing and distributing ice and other illicit drugs in neighbourhoods.
“Callers can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 to provide information and remain anonymous,” Mr Geddes said.
