POLICE RAID CHAPEL'S INJECTING ROOM

Kings Cross police are taking legal advice on whether they have sufficient
evidence to prosecute the Wayside Chapel in Kings Cross with aiding and
abetting heroin addicts following a raid by 15 officers yesterday.

Three men were inside the chapel's heroin injecting room at the time. One
was arrested and charged with possession of heroin while the other two were
released after being issued with notices to face court at a later date
charged with self-administering a drug.

A police spokesman confirmed that "evidence gathered" from the 2.15pm raid
was "being examined with the possibility of bringing a prosecution" against
the chapel.

The AIDS Council of NSW described the raid as a "heavy handed action" which
would drive heroin users to inject in back lanes and alleys and share
equipment and further heighten the risk of deaths from overdoses.

"It's a sad day that organisations such as the Wayside Chapel had to run the
gauntlet of the law on a public health issue," said the council's chief
executive, Mr Robert Griew said.

"We need to urgently discuss law reform so organisations such as the Wayside
Chapel can help injecting drug users and the entire community by providing a
safe place for people to inject and dispose of needles," he said. The
Reverend Bill Crews of the Uniting Church in Ashfield last night called the
police actions outrageous and invited "religious people who are really
concerned" to a meeting at midday.

"I am seriously concerned about the sanctuary of a church being violated. It
means that people cannot seek sanctuary in a church any more."