Buying drugs on the street is a risky business, it is often said; you never quite know what you are getting. But after realising the wrap of white stuff you’ve just spent £50 on is actually 0.6g of scouring powder, what recourse do you have?
Greater Manchester police is now offering to help.
“Annoyed with your drug dealer?” police in south Manchester ask in a tweet. “Tell us who it is and we’ll have a word with them for you.”
It has sparked an entire thread of users squealing on alleged dealers for slights like “always selling under”, selling “a dodgy batch of speed” and being “literally the worst drug dealers ever”.
There is no suggestion that those mentioned have in fact sold any illegal drugs.
Annoyed with your drug dealer? Tell us who it is and we'll have a word with them for you.
— GMPUrmston (@GMPUrmston) May 18, 2015
@GMPUrmston, which offers updates from officers working in the Greater Manchester districts of Carrington, Davyhulme, Flixton, Partington, Trafford Park, Urmston and Woodsend, posted the tweet on Monday evening. Within 24 hours, it had been retweeted 2,700 times and attracted more than 1,500 favourites.
Tongue-in-cheek replies included one who accused David Cameron of selling dodgy speed, another directing officers to the pharmacy chain Boots, and a third who said that despite the failings of the NHS, “I wouldn’t say it was a police matter”.
@GMPUrmston this guy sold me a dodgy batch of speed pic.twitter.com/pkZRIzohxK
— josh (@m4chinegun_) May 19, 2015
@GMPUrmston @CoombesMostyn Boots
— Sick Britain (@SickBritain1) May 19, 2015
@GMPUrmston we know the nhs is shit mate but I wouldn't say it was a police matter.
— mongoose (@poet_peoples) May 19, 2015
Many outed other Twitter users, apparently in jest, but some responses were more wary. “Don’t get me involved in your shenanigans,” wrote @willerrzz. “I’m no grass,” @MickMcCarsey posted, using slang for a police informant.
@Easy_Specs @GMPUrmston dont get me involved in your shenanigans
— weel (@Willerrzz) May 18, 2015
I'm no grass @GMPUrmston
— Third Life (@MickMcCarsey) May 19, 2015
The conversation continued on GMP Trafford North’s Facebook page, where the same request for information was posted.
“Annoyed with my drug dealer! Always late, wouldn’t mind he only lives at the end of my street. Tut,” wrote Brian Walters.
Jonny Cooke said his dissatisfaction was down to police interference. “Yeah I’m annoyed with my dealer he currently has none because you lot keep busting him,” he posted.
It’s not clear if Greater Manchester police had generated any leads from the tweet and Facebook post. A spokeswoman for the force said she did not know. The Guardian sent a reply to the original post asking for comment, but had received no reply at the time of publication.
At least a few replies were from users who said they were entirely happy with the service their local dealer provided. “Mine is actually rather reliable,” wrote Matt Burfield. “Depends entirely on traffic, though.”
@GMPUrmston Mine is actually rather reliable. Depends entirely on traffic, though.
— Matt Burfield (@mattissotrendy) May 19, 2015
