Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2009. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
BBC News - September 14, 2009
Tayside Police said the service, operated in partnership with the city council, would lead to the "rapid removal" of drugs paraphernalia.
The new line replaces a former arrangement which involved people contacting the council's waste service.
In future, people can call 01382 433063 day or night.
Discarded needles and syringes can carry a range of blood-borne viruses including Hepatitis B and C and HIV.
Anyone who finds a needle or syringe is advised not to touch it or dispose of it other than by contacting the new hotline.
Insp Bryan Knight of Tayside Police, said the service would remove any confusion about how people should deal with the issue.
He said: "'The hotline will help to ensure that drug litter is removed quickly.
"It also provides us with another way in which we can gather information about where drug misuse is taking place in the city."
Jimmy Black from the council's environment services added: "This is just the first of a number of initiatives we are taking to deal with discarded needles on our streets.
"By offering a 24-hour number we hope to get people to immediately report anything they find and I would urge them for their own safety to use the number rather than try to deal with discarded drugs paraphernalia themselves."
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