Pubdate: Thu, 16 Aug 2012
Source: Mercury, The (Australia)
Copyright: 2012 Davies Brothers Ltd
Contact:  http://www.themercury.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/193
Author: Zara Dawtrey

DISMAY AT 'SOFT' DRUG PENALTIES

A STRING of suspended sentences handed out to drug-trafficking 
offenders in the past month is evidence Tasmania was soft on drugs, 
say police insiders and those who deal with the aftermath of drug abuse.

Supreme Court of Tasmania sentences posted on the court's website in 
the past few weeks show that of the seven high-end drug traffickers 
and large-scale cannabis cultivators who appeared before the court, 
five received wholly suspended sentences. The remaining two had half 
their total sentence suspended.

Many offenders were on bail for drug trafficking or serving suspended 
sentences when charged with further trafficking crimes.

The offenders either admitted making, or were caught with, proceeds 
of their crimes, ranging from more than $100,000 to nearly $500,000.

Few were ordered to pay any of the money back.

Tasmania Police Drug Investigation Services boss John Arnold said 
while it was not for police to criticise the courts, if those 
sentences reflected the true attitude of the community towards drug 
trafficking, maybe it was time to rethink the police approach.

"It's fair to say that these investigations involve considerable 
police resources, often over an extended period," Detective-Inspector 
Arnold said.

"If these penalties truly reflect the view of the community, then 
perhaps as drug investigators we need to review the way we are 
disrupting the supply of harmful substances into the community."

Further police sources, who would not be identified, were more 
critical, saying the penalties regularly imposed were a joke that 
sent a very clear message to those considering trafficking as a 
full-time or part-time career.

"Why work 9 to 5, have a mortgage and struggle with debt when you can 
import speed or grow a dozen plants under the house and pay for your 
kids' private school education in a month?" a retired detective said.

"The 'why not' has to be about more than morality -- it has to be 
about the expectation of a lengthy jail term. Take that away, as our 
courts have, and there's very little disincentive."

First-time traffickers often appear caught off guard themselves by 
the leniency of their sentences and can regularly be seen expressing surprise.

Police say the majority of traffickers are well aware it is highly 
unlikely they will be sent to Risdon Prison.

Drug rehabilitation agency Holyoake's chief Sarah Charlton said the 
message from the courts should be in line with the national drug strategy.

"You need to look at the harm that is being caused," she said.

"There is a push within Australia among drug and alcohol services for 
the decriminalisation of drugs but we're talking about small personal 
uses. Drug use is a personal choice but when you're introducing 
organised crime, you have to put disincentives in place."
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