The fight against drug dealing in Cork is being stepped up this week with the re-launch of the Cork Dial to Stop Drug Dealing Campaign today (Thursday). The line was first launched in Cork in March 2009 and encourages members of the public to pass on helpful information to the gardai involved in ongoing investigations into drug dealing in Cork. David Lane, Co-ordinator of the Cork Local Drugs Task Force, who will speak at the event, said:

"The Dial to Stop Drug Dealing Campaign which was initially launched in Cork in March 2009 has proven to be very successful in the Cork region. More calls have been generated from Cork city than any other Local Drugs Task Force area. To date, Gardai in Cork have received 145 reports from the Garda National Drugs Unit as a direct result of the campaign."

"The Cork Local Drugs Task believes it will be very beneficial to re-launch this campaign which will increase calls to the Dial to Stop Drug Dealing phone," he said. Being run in the shadow of a 2006 successful pilot campaign in Dublin, the Cork project is one of 15 regional programmes, it is hoped that the re-launch of the line will strengthen links between the community and the Gardaí and promote drug awareness at local level. The renewed campaign is aiming to promote the message that drug dealing is unacceptable at all levels in the community and to provide a mechanism for people living in such communities to provide information they have on such activity in a safe way. It also hopes to assure the confidential nature of the line and to reiterate that people who provide information would not be subject to intimidation or threatening behaviour from drug dealers.

An evaluation report of the Dial to Stop Drug Dealing Campaign, conducted by independent consultants from September 2008 to July 2009 will also be presented at the re-launch. Lord Mayor Cllr Dara Murphy will officially re-launch the campaign at City Hall on Thursday afternoon.

Those who wish to pass on intelligence can phone the confidential and anonymous Dial to Stop Drug Dealing Campaign telephone line on 1800-220-220. Calls are not traced and caller's names and phone numbers are not recorded.

According to the campaign literature, calls are welcome from members of the public with information such as where drugs are being sold, the type of drugs being sold and the location's busiest times.

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