SCOTS police have posted a cut-out form that drug dealers can use to shop their rivals.
Officers in Edinburgh, which is suffering the country’s highest crime rate and falling clear-up rate, used their Twitter account to make the bizarre post.
The form, borrowed from officers in Lumberton, Texas, is headed: “Attention Drug Dealers.”
It asks: “Is your drug dealing competition costing you money? Would you like to eliminate that problem? We can help!
“Report your competition to us.”
Drug dealers were asked to fill in gaps after the following phrases: “My competition is… My competition lives at… My competition’s phone … My competition sells drugs at…”
The Edinburgh City Police Twitter page tweeted the advert alongside the caption: “Call us anonymously on 0800 500 111.”
The original form, which was posted in a newspaper, has reportedly yielded at least one good results for Texas police in the arrest of a local drug dealer.
The authorities also recovered crack cocaine, cocaine, four pounds of marijuana and four firearms.
In July this year half a kilo of crack cocaine and three quarters of a kilo of heroin were discovered alongside 14 ounces of cannabis and around 10,000 diazepam tablets worth £140,000.
According to a new report published by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary Scotland last week, Edinburgh has the highest crime rate in Scotland.
The capital city has the highest number of recorded crimes per 10,000 population at 738.2, well above the national average of 481.2.
The detection rate for crimes in the city has also decreased from 41.7% in 2012-13 to 35.4% last year, the lowest in Scotland.
Satisfaction levels with policing in the capital are also lower than average, at just under 79% in 2014-15 compared to a Scottish average of 83.6%
A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said: “Social media is an important tool for communicating with the public and allows us to provide vital crime prevention advice to keep people safe, as well as appeal for information on crimes and incidents which may have occurred.
“We will continue to explore new and innovative ways to use social media to engage our communities.
“Police in Edinburgh are committed to tackling the problems associated with drugs in our communities and will relentlessly pursue those involved in the sale and supply of controlled drugs.
“We would ask anyone who has information regarding drug crime to contact Police Scotland on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
