Pubdate: Sun, 27 Jan 2013
Source: Herald Sun (Australia)
Copyright: 2013 Herald and Weekly Times
Contact: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/opinion/letter
Website: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/187
Author: Andy Burns
Page: 9

BIG DAY OUT FOR THE SNIFFER DOGS, TOO

TENS of thousands of revellers descended on Flemington Racecourse
yesterday for the Big Day Out music festival, and were faced with a
team of drug sniffer dogs.

Police and drug dogs were on hand to crack down on drug and
alcohol-fuelled trouble makers. Police caught 40 people with drugs at
the event.

Set up outside the gates at Flemington station, there was no escape
from the keen canines, although many attempted to avoid detection.

Senior Sergeant Mark Pilkington said: "We warn people not to bring
drugs to these events, but they keep bringing them, they are
dangerous, made by criminals, they don't know what's in them."

The largest quantities of drugs seized were ecstasy and amphetamines,
with 13 people handed cannabis cautions and 26 receiving drug
diversion orders for other substances.

Young men were t he highest proportion of those caught with drugs - 35
men and five women were caught. One punter was charged with possession
and released.

Police said overall the festival crowd was well behaved, with most
caught with marijuana not carrying harder substances.

Patriotic party goers got into the Aussie spirit with flags and
regalia.

Marnie Jones and Molly Bourke, both 16 from Terang, wore sequinned
frocks to their first Big Day Out. "You only live once!" Molly said.
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MAP posted-by: Matt