POLICE URGE DOB-IN

SOUTH-WEST police have declared war on a growing drug community they believe
has tarnished tourism in the region.

Margaret River, Dunsborough and Augusta police will this week join forces,
desperate to restore the holiday hotspot reputation of their area.

Operation Fed Up will urge the public to "dob in a druggie" to help police
stamp out drug-related crime in the region.

Margaret River police Sgt Ian Pheasant said the suspected drug death of a
27-year-old man at a rave party in Yallingup last month had tipped the
community's tolerance of the problem over the edge.

"We are fed up with the adverse publicity the drug community has brought
here - we've had enough and it's time to clamp down on it," Sgt Pheasant
said. "If a member of the community was murdered the public would flood
local police with information."

The public are asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Police will
then develop strategies to catch drug criminals.

Rewards of $1000 are being offered for information leading to arrests.

Sgt Pheasant said the region's drug problem was enhanced during peak holiday
periods, where dealers took advantage of the vastly increased population.

He hoped Operation Fed Up would uncover a wave of new information and
promised it would be used in a long-term strategy to fight drugs.

"Some of them come here specifically to sell drugs on the big weekends
because the population and demand is here," he said. "We're not expecting to
start locking up drug dealers today or tomorrow, because there's no quick
fix. But we do want to start attracting more of the right element here. When
you've got a reputation as a drug haven it can bring in the wrong types. "I
just hope the tourism industry gets so big here that it drives the drug
element away."