Crimestoppers
Fearless
The South West: no place for drugs
Information and intelligence from our communities is key and, if you report your concerns, action will be taken.
Help us keep the South West clear of drugs by spotting the signs of this activity and reporting it to our charity, 100% anonymously - guaranteed.
Drug dealing has a big impact on local communities. It directly leads to increased crime – more shoplifting, burglary and car theft, as well as litter and anti-social behaviour.
It also leads to the exploitation of children and vulnerable adults by the criminals who run drug supply lines.
We can all play a part in looking out for and reporting signs of drugs activity in our neighbourhoods across the South West.
The message is clear: the South West is no place for drugs.
#NoPlaceForDrugs
We pay up to £1,000 for information about drug dealers that leads to an arrest and charge. Report anonymously to us – no one will know you passed on the information.
Got information? Speak up, 100% anonymously - call free on 0800 555 111 or visit our online form:
Some of the signs that drug dealing might be taking place in your community can include:
- A change in someone's mood/demeanour (e.g. secretive/withdrawn/ aggressive/emotional).
- A resident or local person suddenly having unexplained, sometimes unaffordable, new clothes, jewellery, phones, cars etc.
- An increase in visitors and cars, scooters or bikes to a house or flat, or new faces appearing.
- Sometimes criminals take over a home or short-term let as a drugs base - this is known as cuckooing.
- New and regularly changing residents, maybe with non-local accents.
- Curtains often closed all the time and an increase in rubbish/drug paraphernalia.
- Residents or young people going missing, maybe for long periods of time.
- Young people seeming unfamiliar or uncomfortable with your community or where they are.
The National Crime Agency advice is that you trust your instincts. Even if someone isn't involved in drug dealing, they might be being exploited in some other way, so it's always worth speaking out.
Don’t base your suspicion of someone being a drug dealer solely on their age, gender, or ethnicity. Anyone can get recruited and caught up in this activity. Some signs of drug dealing could include (but are not limited to):
- Dealing drugs (you witnessing the exchange of money for drugs).
- Unknown or suspicious looking character/s.
- Gang associations.
- Controlling characteristics.
- Using nicknames when speaking about others.
- Access to numerous phones - receiving excess amount of phone calls or texts.
- Debt support promises (as part of their recruitment).
- Regularly visiting a potential cuckooed property (e.g. to drop off drugs, collect money or checking in on drugs/criminal activity taking place inside).
How does drug supply have an impact on communities?
The illegal drugs trade has huge negative community consequences, including:
- Fear of reprisals from residents witnessing drug dealing or related crimes.
- Drug sellers' activities causing concern among community residents, for instance an increase in anti-social behaviour.
- Threats and use of violence towards those involved, and sometimes their friends and family.
- Vulnerable community members being forced, coerced, intimidated and/or exploited into criminal activities.
- Social exclusion of victims or concerned residents.
- Demand on social care provision for those who are affected by drug use/users.
- Increase in hospital admissions attributed to drug overdoses, poisonings, and drug-related neonatal disorders.
What to do if you have information on a crime or concerns for someone?
In an emergency, or if a crime is happening now, always call the police on 999.
Information from communities is vital to help crack down on illegal activity happening in your neighbourhoods.
Give information 100% anonymously - call 0800 555 111, or visit our online form:
You can speak to one of our specially-trained Call Agents in our 24/7 Contact Centre on 0800 555 111 or use our non-traceable online form here on our website. You will remain 100% anonymous. Always. We will never ask for your name, and your phone call or online report will never be traced.
19 February 2024
South West support services
National support
SupportLine provides a confidential telephone helpline - 01708 765200 - offering emotional support to any individual on any issue. The helpline is primarily a preventative service and aims to support people before they reach the point of crisis. Email: info@supportline.org.uk.
ChildLine is a confidential service for children and young people up to age 19 providing them with access to a ChildLine counsellor about any problem causing them harm or concern. This can be done by phone - 0800 111111 - , 1-2-1 online chat or by setting up an email locker (inc. BSL & other languages).
Victim Support offers free, confidential and independent support for anyone who’s been the victim of a crime. Call 08 08 16 89 111.
- Change Grow Live (CGL) is co-commissioned with Gloucestershire County Council. If you would like to refer yourself or someone else to the drug and alcohol service, call: 01452 223014 or email: Gloucestershire.Info@cgl.org.uk.
- Connect Wiltshire is a free drug and alcohol service run by Turning Point. Call 0300 5550 157 or email: connectreferrals@turning-point.co.uk.
- Bristol Drugs Project (BDP) is a charity providing harm reduction and treatment services to people experiencing problems with drugs or alcohol. Call: 0117 987 6000.
- South Gloucestershire and Bath and Northeast Somerset. Developing Health & Independence (DHL) run innovative services to help disadvantaged people and those living on the margins of society turn their lives around. Call: 01225 478730. Email: info@dhi-online.org.uk.
- Somerset Drug & Alcohol Service is run by Turning Point. Call: 0300 303 87 88 - available 24/7 for enquiries. Email: sdas@turning-point.co.uk.
- North Somerset. 'We Are With You' offers confidential support with alcohol, drugs or mental health issues.
- EDP Drug & Alcohol Services are passionate about supporting individuals who face complex issues, including substance misuse, mental ill health, and other harmful, addictive and offending behaviours, to improve their health, wellbeing and employability. Call: 0800 043 4656.
- Devon. EDP Drug & Alcohol Services works with people who have been, or are, affected by drug and alcohol problems, and currently offers services, in prison and in the community. Call: 0800 233 5444.
- Cornwall Drugs & Alcohol Adult services (We Are With You). Call: 0333 2000 325.
- Plymouth Drugs & Alcohol (Harbour). Call: 01752 434343.
- Torbay Drugs and Alcohol Services. Call: 01803 291129.
