SARTOR BACKS HEROIN TRIAL

SYDNEY City Council last night supported the concept of a trial of legal
heroin for hard-core drug users and claimed it could reduce crime.

The council backed in principle the "medically controlled prescription of
drugs to long-term users" in an Australian trial.

Lord Mayor Frank Sartor said the trial should be national and not
restricted to Sydney.

"You would not be giving drugs to society at large, but to proven addicts,"
he said.

"The enforcement front has clearly failed."

Among supporters of a heroin trial is NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and
Research director Dr Don Weatherburn.

Councillor Kathryn Greiner opposed the proposal as a "soft option".

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski