A DRUG SOLUTION - ONE POLICEMAN'S VIEW

When Superintendent Ian Winn first hit the streets as a trim,
fresh-faced constable in 1964 there was no such thing as a drug problem.

The major social ills confronting society were linked to alcohol. In
those final days of 6pm closing, men would drink hard and fast, then
stagger on to the streets at dusk to cause all sorts of trouble.

``Alcohol was the major catalyst for most of the crime,'' he recalls.
``I can remember back as a constable in Brunswick, driving around in a
divvy van saying `if they'd do away with alcohol we'd get rid of 50per
cent of our work'.

``I've got no doubt some of my young people are driving around in
divvy vans today saying exactly the same, only talking about drugs not
alcohol.''

Research lends support to his hunch. For example, a Macquarie
University study of 267 imprisoned burglars in New South Wales jails
and juvenile detention centres in 1998 reported more than 90per cent
said they were users of illicit drugs. The study concluded most were
motivated by the need to generate money to pay for drugs.

Some argue that the end of prohibition and the later reform of liquor
licensing laws resulted in far fewer alcohol-related crimes - so why
not regulate the heroin market? But Mr Winn disagrees. He believes the
heroin problem can be turned around by broadening current practices.

It is not surprising that his perspective on harm minimisation, which
underpins the national drugs policy, is different to those advocating
on behalf of users.

Ms Kirsty Morgan, from VIVAids, the Victorian drug-user group,
questions the value of arresting addicts on charges of possession and
use. Convictions, she says, add to the difficulties faced by those
battling against a health problem. But Mr Winn, who oversees police
operations in the inner-city areas, sees it differently.

``We regard harm reduction not only in terms of the user but also the
community as a whole ... preventing armed robberies, robberies,
begging, dealing or using on the street is a harm reduction because it
makes the community feel safe,'' he says.

``At the same time we recognise that just charging people and bringing
them before court is not an answer.''

This belief led to his involvement with local groups in the
Collingwood area and the organisation of a pilot program called
Collaboration, Care and Innovation. The program, will link users with
drug treatment counsellors.

The program will be trialled later this year at the Fitzroy police
station. Counsellors will meet users as soon as they are released from
custody, immediately involving them with rehabilitation services.

Like the Chief Commissioner, Mr Neil Comrie, Mr Winn is a supporter of
heroin trials. He believes such trials, together with programs like
the Fitzroy one, represent the next step in countering the drug problem.

``I think it's too early to say `I give up - legalise it' ... I think
we can do much better than that.''