P CRACKDOWN BLAMED FOR RISE IN OFFENCES

Police are attributing a crackdown on amphetamine-type drugs for the
surge in reported drug offences in the past year.

Canterbury recorded a 42 per cent increase in amphetamine-type drug
offences, including methamphetamine and ecstasy, for the year ending
June 30, latest police figures show.

Canterbury's cannabis and other drug offences such as cocaine and
heroin dropped by 1.6% and 18.9% respectively.

Nationally, amphetamine-type drug offences have increased 50%.

Head of Canterbury's drug squad, Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Long,
said police had been focused on curbing the proliferation of
amphetamine-type drugs which had become the "drug of choice".

"We have one of the highest take-up rates of P and ecstasy in the
world - us and Australia. That's why New Zealand is being targeted by
international syndicates."

The drugs had a high commodity price on the street, attracting more
profit-seeking drug pushers, he said.

While police had not got complacent about targeting other drugs such
as cannabis, limited resources restricted policing, Long said.

"We have to prioritise with the resources and the scale and
seriousness in terms of harm to the community. It's fair to say Class
A and B are more serious.

"There's a direct link between P and violent crime in a lot of
instances, murders, serious assaults and drug deals gone wrong."

Intelligence-led policing led to more crimes being recorded, as well
as high resolution rates, he said.

"The police create statistics for drugs because we go and find the
offenders and arrest them. That's why clearances are so high at 90%
as opposed to burglaries at 15%."

New Zealand Drug Foundation executive director Ross Bell said the
spike in amphetamine-type offences reflected increased police focus
rather than demand for the drug.