ASSAULT ON DRUGS AN UNWINNABLE WAR

THE STANCE taken by the Australian Federal Police Association (CT, November
17, p.3) just shows how out of tune they are with the heroin problem. The
police, Customs, National Crime Authority, etc, have been trying to stop
heroin coming into the country for over 40 years, with no real impact on
street trade.

In fact the heroin problem is getting worse, which in turn causes crime to
rise which means more police, more promotions! If there was no money to be
made in the heroin trade then the problem would decrease, crime would fall,
police numbers could be cut or used to target crime which affects people,
like burglaries, etc.

Your household insurance premiums would fall. There would be no needles in
the street. There would be no need for any more armed hold-ups to pay for
smack. How long did it take all the generals and majors to realise Vietnam
was an unwinnable war.

PETER STONEBRIDGE
Pearce