Communities urged to Dial to Stop Drug Dealing
DIAL TO STOP DRUG DEALING – 1800 220 220.
The call came today at the launch of DIAL TO STOP DRUG DEALING from Mr John Curran TD, Minister of State with responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy at at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. Minister of State Curran was joined at the launch by Assistant Garda Commissioner Al McHugh.
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.
The new campaign follows the successful pilot project run by the Blanchardstown Local Drugs Task Force in 2006 when Ireland’s first ever non-Garda confidential phone line was used to collect information on drug dealing in the Dublin 15 area.
Speaking at the launch, Minister of State Curran, said: “I am calling on any person with information on drug dealing in their local area, be it first or second hand information, to call the Dial to Stop freephone number 1800 220 220 today. Anyone who calls this number can be completely assured that their information will be treated with the strictest confidentiality. They will not be asked for their name, or any other information that will identify them in any way. I would urge communities involved in the campaign to make the most of this service and to take control of the future of their communities. We cannot let the dealers determine the lives of future generations. Dial to stop drug dealing today.
Assistant Garda Commissioner Al McHugh commented: “People in Blanchardstown used the freephone number to convey very valuable information on drug dealing in their area. Court actions are pending because of the success of that campaign. This national initiative is about getting at the big dealers who are targeting our young people and destroying communities. People can reclaim their communities by using this safe and confidential mechanism to pass on their information.”
DIAL TO STOP DRUG DEALING will be rolled out in a series of local campaigns in a number of local or regional drugs task force areas around the country. Phase One areas will include 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.
A pre-campaign poll in the participating areas has revealed significant public support for an anti-drug dealing initiative with the majority polled showing a civic conscience and a desire to play a part in reducing the presence of drugs in their own communities.
Some 64% of those polled identified drugs as a main social problem in their area. 56% of people reported that they were “very likely” or “somewhat likely” to call a non-Garda confidential telephone number to give information on drug activity in their area.
For more information or interviews, please contact:
Niamh Allen, Public Communications Centre,
01 6794173, 087 9893749 or
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it