DRUGS AND CRIME

FIGURES given to parliamentarians yesterday show a clear correlation
between drug use and violent crimes committed by young offenders.

One survey found that use of some drugs, including heroin and cocaine,
had more thatn doubled since a similar survery three years earlier.
Robberies, assaults and sexual assaults involving violence also
increased drastically, by as much as a half, between 1996 and 1999.

It was worrying, then, to see Juvenile Service Department head Ken
Buttrum admit that staff possibly were supplying drugs to juveniles in
institutions. Mr Buttrum suggested measures such as sniffer dog
searches might be needed to prevent this. The statistics certainly
back the tightening of procedures.