SUPPORT FOR DRUG CRIME SCHEME

THE POLICE Commissioner, Mr Hyde, has publicly backed drug courts as a
"positive option" for reducing drug-related crime.

And he proposed a policy shift urging police to apprehend more
street-level drug users, to be sent for treatment and
rehabilitation.

Speaking yesterday after giving suppressed evidence to Parliament's
heroin trial select committee, My Hyde said he would give only
"qualified support" for a trial.

"There are some negative consequences - for instance, sending the
wrong message to the community about taking illicit drugs, or what we
call the migration effect, having people addicted to drug who might
come in to SA, and therefore commit crime in SA.

"Heroin trials, I think, have a role to play, but I'd certainly only
give it qualified support at this stage because my first question
would be whethere there are any other treatment option available that
the heroin trial would cover. If there aren't, I'd certainly support
the possibility of heroin trials."

Mr Hyde said drug courts, which have received support from the
Premier, Mr Olsen, and the Opposition Leader, Mr Rann, could reduce
the community's burden of drug crime.

"I see drug courts as a way of supervising somebody who might be
addicted to drugs rather than giving them a penalty in a normal court.

"I think drug courts are a real option that we should positively look
at, and I'm looking forward to see the results of the trial in NSW."

Mr Hyde said he would like to see more activity from projects like
SAPol's Operation Mantle - a six-month intensive drug offensive he
said had been extended by six months.

"Operation Mantle is producing a lot of results - there have been 425
people apprehended for drug offences - many of them for trafficking
and drug supply offences." Thirty nine people had been referred for
treatment.