CALL TO TRUST DRUG TRIALS

Australians needed to be brave enough to support new strategies in the war
against drugs, even if the strategies had not been proved, the commissioner
of the Australian Federal Police, Mr Mick Palmer, said in Melbourne
yesterday.

He told the 1st International Conference on Drugs and Young People that he
was in favor of the introduction in Victoria of a scheme that allows police
to caution low-level marijuana users, instead of automatically arresting and
prosecuting them, and a potential trial of specialist drug courts in New
South Wales.

"We have to look at new ways and focus on new ideas... If something sounds
like it might make sense and it's something we can afford to do, why not
give it a go. We've got to be prepared to try new ground here," he said.

"To say that the only way we can deal with low-level use and possession on
the streets is in terms of arrest and prosecute is nonsense. It's proven not
to be successful. We have to deal with that end of the equation in a very
different way."

Also yesterday the mayors of 10 Melbourne cities signed an accord calls for
a trial of controlled heroin supply, safe injecting rooms and support for
police in drug cautioning programs."

Checked-by: Rolf Ernst