COMRIE WARNING ON SITE'S LEGALITY

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Neil Comrie yesterday warned the Wesley
Central Mission not to open its heroin injecting facility until the
appropriate legislation was in place.

Speaking on 3AW, Mr Comrie said police would have no alternative but to
prosecute if a complaint was made about the facility operating outside the law.

"I've simply told Wesley that they should not operate outside the law, that
if they were to operate they should wait until appropriate laws are
passed," Mr Comrie said.

Mr Comrie said it was essential that police have complete access to the
facility, should it open, in order to detect any trafficking activities.

The mission has said anyone found dealing in the facility would be banned
for a week, while repeat offenders would be banned permanently and possibly
handed over to police.

"If they are to condone that sort of activity by not taking action, it
would bring the whole system into disrepute," Mr Comrie said. "We certainly
won't tolerate it and one of the things that we've said is that we should
have access to these facilities at any time to ensure that the laws are
being maintained."

In a recent memo circulated to all members stating the force's position on
injecting rooms, Mr Comrie said that, if injecting facilities were
implemented, police would conduct undercover operations to detect drug
dealers and commit uniform patrols near the facilities.

The memo states that police should exercise discretion as to whether to
charge a person found in possession of a small quantity of drugs near the
facilities, but said legislation must proclaim the legality of personal
drug use and possession within the facilities.

"At no time would we condone or in any way assist the distribution of
drugs," Mr Comrie said. "It is a very serious criminal offence and we'll
continue to take action against it."