Police out in force for drug house rally

A strong police presence dampened support for a public rally held to protest against the Territory Government’s proposed drug house legislation yesterday.

Uniformed officers circled Bennett Park near Parliament House and undercover officers waited in nearby cars as 40 protesters joined the rally.

The rally was put on by the Top End Users’ Forum (TUF) to protest against proposed legislation aimed at increasing police powers to search and arrest people for drug offences.

The legislation will allow police to declare houses and nightclubs as “drug houses” and search the premises without a warrant. TUF member Gary Meyerhoff said the new law was modelled on New South Wales legislation which had allowed police to target certain communities.

“Police have been able to target the gay community in Oxford St by closing off nightclubs and strip-searching patrons,” he said. “We don’t want to see that (here).”

Mr Meyerhoff said declaring certain locations as drug houses would drive the drug trade further underground and discourage users to seek help or treatment.

He appealed to Attorney-General Peter Toyne to postpone the enactment of the legislation until the community was consulted.

Newshawk: http://www.tuf.org.au
Pubdate: 8th March 2002
Source: Northern Territory News
Website: http://www.ntnews.com.au
Email: ntnmail@ntn.newsltd.com.au
Copyright: 2002 Northern Territory News