HONEYPOT WARNING BY POLICE

The Kings Cross injecting room could become a "honeypot'' for drug
dealers and drug users, police warned yesterday.

The warning came as Premier Bob Carr confessed to struggling with his
conscience before signing off on the controversial proposal.

Mr Carr, whose younger brother Greg died of a heroin overdose in 1981,
said he had been "torn in half'' by the drug debate.

He also conceded that he "half agreed'' with critics of the injecting
room: "It is controversial, and I myself have had doubts,'' he said.

"Part of my mind is with the people who argue rigid zero tolerance and
treating this only as a legal problem. Part of my mind is with them as
I suspect is the community's.''

His comments came as police said the injecting room could become a
"honeypot'' for both users and dealers.

Police Association president Mark Burgess said officers needed clear
instructions as to what procedures would apply in and around the room.

He said it was "obvious'' people entering the room would be carrying
heroin, and could be questioned, and even charged.

He also said dealers would congregate at the room, and police would
need clear guidelines as to how to respond. "These things require a
high level of discussion before the project gets up and running.''

Prime Minister John Howard yesterday joined critics of the injecting
room, saying he was "disappointed'' with the Carr Government's decision.

But the Commonwealth was powerless to block the proposal, unlike
trials which require changes to federal law allowing importation and
distribution of heroin.

"It's a decision within the prerogative of the State Government and I
can't stop it, I won't attempt to stop it,'' he said.

But Mr Howard said his views on injecting rooms remained
unchanged.

"I share the view that a number have expressed that it sends the wrong
signal,'' he said.

The room, to be run by St Vincents Hospital and the Sisters of
Charity, will operate on a trial basis for 18 months.

St Vincents Drug and Alcohol Service director Dr Alex Wodak revealed
yesterday users could be encouraged to smoke heroin rather than inject.

While the sensation of the drug is lessened, so too are the dangers of
contracting HIV/AIDS and hepatitis B or dying from an overdose.

The Carr Government is hoping to replicate the success of injection
room programs in Switzerland, where no-one has ever died of an
overdose inside the rooms.