Cops 'losing drug battle'

Territory police are losing the war on drugs, a survey of drug users in Darwin shows.

A report by a Darwin drug researcher found 70 per cent of 135 drug users interviewed did not believe police activity had made it harder to get drugs.

And despite an increased presence, police were not catching the big dealers, the report said.

NT University researcher Dr Bridie O'Reilly's report said drug users believed police were "around more".

More than 10 per cent stated there had been more police drug raids. Drug users said police were targeting the wrong people - users instead of dealers.

The report backed up a police statement last year that most Darwin burglaries were done to buy drugs.

The survey revealed almost 60 per cent of the users had a criminal history and had been in jail.

Detective Sergeant Fred Huysse told the Northern Territory News last year all burglars were drug users, but not all were addicts.

And the majority of property crimes were done so thieves could sell stolen goods to buy drugs.

Newshawk: http://www.tuf.org.au
Pubdate: Mon, 11 March 2002
Source: Northern Territory News
Website: http://www.ntnews.com.au
Email: ntnmail@ntn.newsltd.com.au
Copyright: 2002 Northern Territory News