STAFF LINING UP TO MAN HEROIN TRIAL

The safe injecting room at Kings Cross has been inundated with applications
from nurses and drug and alcohol counsellors eager to work on the landmark
trial.

A 67-year-old woman living in South Africa has even sent a plea to be
considered for a job, despite having no experience in the health or drugs
fields.

The enthusiasm of potential helpers has taken those setting up the
controversial experiment, which last week won permission to start after May
1, by surprise.

Dr Ingrid van Beek, who is overseeing the trial at the Kirketon Road
Centre, said: "We've had a huge response and we're pleased by the number of
people writing in.

"We've sent out 45 information packs just from one round of advertising.
There's a lot of people out there who want to work in this."

Ironically, she believes the flurry of publicity from the bid by the Kings
Cross Chamber of Commerce to stop the injecting rooms going ahead at its
chosen site on Darlinghurst Road has meant the level of interest is much
higher.

The exact opening date is being kept a strict secret in a bid to try and
avoid crowds of press and onlookers at the start, some time after May 1,
and to make sure potential customers aren't put off.

At first the room will open only for four hours from 10am, but after new
workers are trained, it will also operate for a four-hour evening period
from 6pm.

There will be strict rules, however, about dealing drugs on the premises
and, if staff see any evidence of that happening, they will immediately
call in the police. Neither will the centre be a safe haven for anyone
dealing in drugs outside if they run inside while being pursued by police.

"There will be no no-go area or precinct in which people are allowed to
deal drugs," Dr van Beek said. "There will be zero tolerance for drug
supply right up to the doorstop and on the premises.

"Our code of conduct includes no dealing on the premises and if staff
detect that they will report it to the police. And if the police should be
in pursuit of someone who runs on to the premises, they can follow. No way
will we stand in the way of the police doing their job.

"We support policing the drug supply. We don't see any good in lots of
people being able to get drugs cheaply."