Pubdate: Fri, 14 Dec 2001
Source: Age, The (Australia)
Copyright: 2001 The Age Company Ltd
Contact:  http://www.theage.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5

POLICE WANT TO RETAIN DRUG SQUAD EXPERTISE: NIXON

MELBOURNE - Victorian Police remained committed to ridding the state of its 
drugs scourge despite axing its drug squad unit, Chief Commissioner 
Christine Nixon said today.

A four-month independent review, ordered by Ms Nixon, recommended the squad 
be disbanded after a raft of corruption allegations were made against it.

A reformed unit, called the major drug squad investigation division, will 
take its place. A new command team will take control early next year.

Ms Nixon said she hoped to retain the strong criminal investigation skills 
of members of the defunct drug squad.

"We'd be looking to try and retain a balance of expertise. We are moving 
in, in terms of the senior management, people who have strong expertise in 
criminal investigation and we hope not to lose that capacity," she told 
radio 3AW.

"I think drug law enforcement is a major issue for us in Victoria, and one 
which we are very much going to focus on ... because it's just a scourge 
and we need to do the best we can to get rid of these demons."

Ms Nixon also said sting operations, which involved selling chemicals used 
in amphetamine production to dealers, had been suspended.

"At this stage, we've ceased that operation because it has in fact been 
proven to be ... high risk in terms of corruption," Ms Nixon said.

"It is a good strategy, but if you were to ask other states - South 
Australia, NSW and Tasmania - (they) only use that as a minimal strategy.

"What we need to be looking at is what other strategies are available, 
perhaps what other reforms might be necessary to be able to allow us to go 
after the high-level drug dealing."
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MAP posted-by: Beth