DWINDLING ARMY FIGHTS DRUG WAR

Victoria's war against drugs has been hit by a severe shortage of
specialist detectives. The Victoria Police drug squad had just 35 of its 62
detectives on duty last week. The squad had 76 officers in July 1997.

Just seven detectives and an analyst were dedicated to catching major
non-Asian heroin dealers and traffickers in cocaine, ecstasy and LSD,
according to information obtained by the Herald Sun.

Sources said the shortages had hampered investigations putting other jobs
"on ice".

"It makes you wonder how serious they (police command) are about fighting
drugs," one source said. "It's been getting progressively worse for the
past three years."

The extent of drug squad shortages emerged after the Herald Sun last month
revealed that up to $4 million of cocaine and more than $5 million of
ecstasy tablets were sold in Victoria each week.

Police Minister Andre Haermeyer yesterday said he would seek a meeting with
Chief Commissioner Neil Comrie to discuss the problem.

While the government was keen to see drug traffickers pursued as vigorously
as possible, Mr Haermeyer said the deployment of the extra 800 police to be
provided over four years was an operational decision for Mr Comrie.

Unit one of the drug squad last week had just four senior detectives, one
detective sergeant, one detective senior sergeant and one detective
inspector and an analyst on duty.

The unit - responsible for non-Asian heroin dealers and all major
trafficking in cocaine, ecstasy and LSD - should have five detective
sergeants and 12 senior detectives.

The squad's other two units - which target the amphetamine trade and Asian
heroin traffickers - had 27 sworn staff between them.

Fifteen squad members were on annual or long service leave. Some had been
seconded to other squads, operations, agencies or training.

Two officers are serving out unused sick leave having resigned from the
job, while another has been on sick leave for more than two years.

The jobs of another 10 officers who have left the squad had not been
advertised.

Cdr Rod Lambert said the shortages were unavoidable as officers on extended
leave, sick leave or secondment could not be replaced as they were still on
the drug squad payroll.

But Cdr Lambert said the squad was performing at similar levels to last
year. About 70 per cent of crimes are drug related.

The Salvation Army said the shortage was of great concern.

"It is worrying to hear that Victoria has reduced its total number of
detectives working on the drugs issue," Salvation Army communications
director John Dalziel said.

Last year in Victoria more than 5000 drug addicts contacted the Salvation
Army for help. The army also handed out about 700,000 syringes.