NSW NEW DRUG LAWS HIT SNAG ON FIRST DAY

New laws, which give New South Wales police the power to move drug users
and drunks off the streets, have run into controversy on the first day of
their implementation.

The laws were passed nine months ago but came into effect today.

However the Shadow Police Minister, Andrew Tink, says police have received
no guidelines on how they will work.

"Where are the protocols? If they exist, I certainly haven't seen them and
I haven't talked to anyone else who has," he said.

That has been confirmed by the police association's president, Ian Ball.

"None of our members have been trained or given the legislative framework
in which they are to operate," he said.

Today the Premier, Bob Carr, could not confirm whether they were working on
the ground but he stressed the laws will give police another option.

"The police have got the power, " he said.

"They can use it when they want to use it, there's no issue about when they
use it.

"It was passed in June, it came out of the Drug Summit."