Drug-related calls to Crimestoppers in Norfolk have more than trebled since the Evening News launched its Shop A Pusher campaign.

Readers of the Norwich Evening News, keen to see streets free from the menace of drug dealers, have swamped call centres with anonymous tip-offs following the campaign’s launch in May.

The paper encouraged readers with the slightest piece of information about anyone they suspected of dealing drugs to call the confidential hotline. The details would then be passed on to the police to investigate.

Following the launch there were more than 70 calls to Crimestoppers in May from people in Norfolk compared with 17 for the same period last year – a rise of more than 300 per cent.

Although it is too early to calculate the number of arrests carried out as a result of the tip-offs, Crimestoppers has praised the Evening News for helping to increase the number of actionable drug-related calls to them.

Isabel Cross, eastern development manager for Crimestoppers, said: “The increase in calls has to be down to the increase in publicity afforded by the Evening News.

“Crimestoppers is a partnership between the police, the media and the community. The Evening News publicity is a really good example of how that system works at its best.”

Back to the campaigns index

Do you have a story about the regional press? Ring 0116 227 3122/3121, or
e-mail [email protected]