NEW POLICE POWERS TO CONTROL DRUG USERS

New powers enabling police to remove drug users from public places came
into force yesterday, the NSW Government said.

Under the new laws, police will be able to deal with drug-affected people
in the same way as drunks by removing them from public areas to a health
centre for treatment, or to their home.

The laws came into force as police grapple with increasing drug and crime
problems in the south-western Sydney suburb of Cabramatta and other
notorious inner-city drug hot spots such as Kings Cross.

Drug affected people who were moved on under the new police powers would
not be charged.