DEALERS 'EXPLOIT' INJECTING CENTRE

DRUG users and dealers are exploiting a legal loophole that allows
them to avoid charges if they are travelling to the Kings Cross
injecting room, local businesses have claimed.

Drug activity around the inner-Sydney suburb has increased since the
safe injecting centre opened eight days ago, said Kings Cross Chamber
of Commerce president Paul Haege.

The law governing the injecting room gives police the discretion to
refrain from charging someone carrying drugs ``while the person is
travelling to or from, or is in the vicinity of, a licenced injecting
centre''.

``Now it appears to be legal to possess heroin and amphetamines and
cocaine ... It puts (police) in a very difficult position because if
they don't charge people, they are abrogating their
responsibilities,'' Mr Haege said.

The NSW Government, police and UnitingCare, which runs the centre,
dismissed the claim.

``That's just a lot of rubbish and the Kings Cross Chamber of
Commerce are totally lacking in credibility,'' said UnitingCare
executive director Harry Herbert. He said there was no other way for
the centre to operate. Users needed to be able to bring drugs to the
safe environment at the centre.

``I think the first week has gone extremely well -- we have not had a
large group of clients but it is going well,'' Reverend Herbert said.

Mr Haege, who represents 60 Kings Cross nightclubs, hotels and
``perhaps one'' sex shop, rejected any suggestion that his members
were afraid the injecting centre would provide an alternative for
addicts who would otherwise shoot up in bars or clubs.

``That's not right. We don't have members who run illegal injecting
rooms -- our basic argument has always been that we would rather the
injecting room be somewhere else, away from businesses,'' said Mr
Haege, who works as a full-time lobbyist.

A spokesman for Special Minister of State John Della Bosca said it
was ``nonsense'' to say addicts or dealers could escape charges by
falsely claiming they were travelling to the centre.

For a trial period of 18 months the injecting centre is open from
10am to 2pm, seven days a week. Depending on its success, an evening
session between 6pm and 10pm will follow.