Pubdate: Tue, 22 Jun 1999 Source: Sydney Morning Herald (Australia) Contact: http://www.smh.com.au/ Author: Paola Totaro HEROIN DEATH LED TO POLICY CATALYST The Victorian Police Commissioner has described how the heroin overdose of a friend's son pushed him to explore - and later adopt - radical new approaches to policing and drugs. The Commissioner, Mr Neil Comrie, who with the support of the Victorian Premier, Mr Kennett, is trialing a radical police caution system for personal use of all drugs, including heroin, has written candidly of his experiences in a new book, Heroin Crisis (Bookman, 1999), to be launched in Melbourne today. "My friend's 22-year-old-son had come to Melbourne with his girlfriend for a weekend," he wrote. "He wasn't a regular drug user, and was brought up in an environment of love and security. However, that weekend, he was offered some of the high-purity and cheap heroin that is readily available on the streets of Australian cities. He injected and died." Mr Comrie says the impact of this tragedy changed his thinking. "The senselessness of this death has given me the impetus and courage to embrace new approaches and explore alternative strategies," he wrote. Mr Comrie, who is also the chairman of the Australian Bureau of Criminal Intelligence Board of Control, is equally an opponent of "zero tolerance" and drug decriminalisation, and champions a balanced approach of law enforcement and harm reduction. Last September Victorian began a trial of the Cannabis Caution Program and an extension, known as the Victoria Police Drug Diversion Pilot, in a bid to break the cycle of drugs and jail. The second, more radical, program allows police to caution those found with illicit drugs, including heroin, on condition that the amount is small and the offender agrees to treatment. Both models are being considered by the NSW Government following last month's Drug Summit. A formal response to its recommendations is expected late next month, although an allocation for drug reforms will be in today's State Budget. - --- MAP posted-by: Don Beck