Pubdate: Mon, 26 Jul 2004
Source: West Australian (Australia)
Copyright: 2004 West Australian Newspapers Limited
Contact:  http://www.thewest.com.au
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/495
Author: Wendy Pryer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)

SECRET SOFT TURN ON HARD DRUGS

People caught with small amounts of hard drugs including heroin and 
amphetamines are being let off with a caution under a controversial change 
to police procedures that has been operating for seven months.

The change, introduced without announcement, lets people caught for the 
first time with up to half a gram of amphetamines or heroin or up to two 
tablets of ecstasy or other drugs to escape criminal penalty by going to 
three counselling sessions.

The State Opposition says the change shows the State Government is soft on 
drugs.

WA Police Service rules were changed in January to allow small-time users 
who admit their guilt, have not offended before and were not involved in 
another crime when caught with the drug, to be diverted out of the justice 
system and into the health system. They are charged with the drug offence 
if they do not attend counselling.

Coalition deputy and National Party leader Max Trenorden attacked the new 
rules, saying the State Government was sending the WA community the wrong 
message about drugs.

"These are the drugs that parents worry about when their kids go to 
nightclubs," he said.

"They are sending the message that it's all right to go around with small 
amounts of drugs. It will encourage trafficking because people know they 
can get away with it. That is a significant change to drug enforcement and 
they did it without telling the population as a whole."

But Drug and Alcohol Office acting executive director Steve Allsop said the 
diversion program was restricted to small numbers of people and was part of 
a national initiative funded by the Federal Government and supported by all 
other States.

"I think it has been shown to be effective because if somebody is referred 
to compulsory treatment, it is an effective way of getting them off drugs," 
Professor Allsop said.

He rejected claims the program had been kept quiet because of fear of 
public backlash, saying it had just not been launched with any fanfare.

It was an extension of a trial that began under the former Court 
Government, in December 2000, and operated in Geraldton, Perth and 
Mirrabooka, he said.

The trial ended and became formal police policy across the State on January 
1. Legislative change was not required.

Since January 1 this year, 32 people caught with illicit drugs have been 
diverted to treatment under the program. Nineteen have completed counselling.

Of those 19, all were caught with amphetamine-like substances, including 
amphetamine, methylamphetamine and MDMA (ecstasy).

But people caught with small amounts of cannabis or growing two plants or 
fewer cannot go through the diversion program. They must opt for a fine or 
one education session under controversial new laws that took effect in March.

Professor Allsop said it was too early to say if the trial had reduced 
re-offending rates for drug offences, saying it would be evaluated when 
more people had been through it. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake