HEROIN DEATH LED TO POLICY CATALYST

The Victorian Police Commissioner has described how the heroin overdose of a
friend's son pushed him to explore - and later adopt - radical new
approaches to policing and drugs.

The Commissioner, Mr Neil Comrie, who with the support of the Victorian
Premier, Mr Kennett, is trialing a radical police caution system for
personal use of all drugs, including heroin, has written candidly of his
experiences in a new book, Heroin Crisis (Bookman, 1999), to be launched in
Melbourne today.

"My friend's 22-year-old-son had come to Melbourne with his girlfriend for a
weekend," he wrote. "He wasn't a regular drug user, and was brought up in an
environment of love and security. However, that weekend, he was offered some
of the high-purity and cheap heroin that is readily available on the streets
of Australian cities. He injected and died."

Mr Comrie says the impact of this tragedy changed his thinking. "The
senselessness of this death has given me the impetus and courage to embrace
new approaches and explore alternative strategies," he wrote.

Mr Comrie, who is also the chairman of the Australian Bureau of Criminal
Intelligence Board of Control, is equally an opponent of "zero tolerance"
and drug decriminalisation, and champions a balanced approach of law
enforcement and harm reduction.

Last September Victorian began a trial of the Cannabis Caution Program and
an extension, known as the Victoria Police Drug Diversion Pilot, in a bid to
break the cycle of drugs and jail.

The second, more radical, program allows police to caution those found with
illicit drugs, including heroin, on condition that the amount is small and
the offender agrees to treatment.

Both models are being considered by the NSW Government following last
month's Drug Summit. A formal response to its recommendations is expected
late next month, although an allocation for drug reforms will be in today's
State Budget.