FEAR OF ABUSE BY DOGS

USING police sniffer dogs in the city will result in the mistreatment
of addicts, according to a community legal group.

Members of the Fitzroy Legal Service have expressed concern at the
introduction of sniffer dogs to patrol the city, weeding out drug dealers.

Ms Fiona Lambeck from the service said yesterday she sees enough
police mistreatment of clients already.

"I am very concerned that police dogs will end up being a further
weapon of misuse," she said.

"Drug addicts need medical help and support to beat their addiction,
not to be brutalised by police dogs."

Liberty Victoria president Felicity Hampel QC said she hoped the dogs
would only be used for detection.

"We'd have a problem if they were being used to hold people at bay or
instill fear in people," she said.

Police have announced that sniffer dogs will search Melbourne streets
and lanes for up to 16 hours a day, seven days a week, over the next
few months.

If the operation is successful it will be extended to heroin
troublespots in Collingwood, Footscray and Springvale.

Checked-by: Rich O'Grady