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