Three states tackle sniffing

A TRI-STATE plan to combat petrol trafficking, illegal drugs and substance abuse will be launched in Alice Springs next week.

The new strategy is an initiative of police from Western Australia, South Australia and the Territory.

The program was developed to reduce petrol sniffing and other substance abuse problems in remote Aboriginal communmities.

A Substance Abuse Intelligence Desk (SAID) will be established, based on the Remote Community Drug Desk model in the Top End.

An intelligence officer and an investigations officer, to be based in Alice Springs, will collate intelligence and co-ordinate police activities in the cross border region.

Police will target petrol trafficking and the smuggling of illegal drugs and alcohol.

SAID will aim to improve regional police capabilities to catch traffickers, and educate community residents to report suspicious behaviour.

Alice Springs police commander Mark Coffey welcomed the $500,000 in federal funding, which he said would enable police from all three jurisdictions to target substance abuse.

"If we can reduce the amount of petrol, alcohol and drugs in those communities, the other associated behaviours such as domestic violence, assaults and those sorts of activities will decrease," he said.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Tuesday, 17 January 2006
Source: Northern Territory News (Australia)
Author: Greg McLean
Website: http://www.ntnews.com.au