POLICE BLITZ WINS BACK HEROIN STRIP

DRUG and crime-riddled streets of Footscray had been returned to the people
thanks to a heroin crackdown, police said yesterday.Crime department head
Commander Rod Lambert said there had been a dramatic drop in heroin-related
deaths, overdoses and crime under Operation Reform.

Acting Premier John Thwaites welcomed the fall in deaths but said the battle
was far from won.

Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine figures show 151 people died from
heroin overdoses in the six months to June 30 this year.

It is a 15 per cent reduction on the 178 deaths in the first half of last
year.

"We are claiming back the streets for the law-abiding citizens," Cdr Lambert
said.

"We would like to think that they can now go shopping at any time of the day
and night without any real fear of being accosted or mugged."

Cdr Lambert said ambulance officers attended 50 suspected heroin overdoses
in March, the month before Operation Reform began.

In June, with the blitz in full swing, the number of overdoses fell 94 per
cent to just three.

Across the Maribyrnong area - taking in Footscray, Sunshine and St Albans -
the number of heroin overdoses fell 88 per cent from 69 in March to eight in
June.

Cdr Lambert also said record heroin seizures by the drug squad and National
Crime Authority this year meant less heroin was available.

Operation Reform led to more than 200 arrests, mostly for drug dealing and
theft, since April.

The blitz began in Footscray's CBD and extended to Geelong. Ballarat and
Warrnambool are next. Similar operations are planned for hot spots in
Springvale, Dandenong, Richmond and the city.

Cdr Lambert said Paisley St, Footscray, was littered with dealers and users
before the blitz.

"There were certainly more drug dealers and people looking for drugs than
there were shoppers on the street.

"That's changed considerably. Now there are shoppers, people walking along
quietly."

Mr Thwaites said a greater police presence was part of the solution.

"We believe you have to have more police, you have to have more
rehabilitation and treatment programs and we've got to save lives."