POPPY THEFT NOT RISING DESPITE CROP INCREASE

The stealing of poppy heads had not risen in this season despite a
huge haul of 27,000 heads in a single theft, the manager of the Poppy
Advisory and Control Board, Terry Stuart, said.

Mr Stuart said there had been 62,000 heads interfered with in
1999-2000, compared with 66,000 in 1998-99.

Twelve people have been charged by police with offences ranging from
trespassing to possession of a prohibited substance, he said.

"We had an exceptionally good year given the size of the crop and the
number of roadside paddocks," he said.

"The biggest single incident on the South-East coast involved a ute
load of about 27,000 poppy heads and without that it would have been
well down on last year.

"We have the best record in the world."

A task force was operated, consisting of four dedicated police
officers in each of the three police districts.

Five more inspectors work for the Poppy Control Board overseeing the
clean-up of regrowth and cleaning of roadsides.

Mr Stuart said the task force was to be expanded for the coming
season.

Last season, 21,000ha of poppies were grown in the last season
compared with 14,000 in 1998-99.