POLICE REFUSE TO BLITZ DRUG ZONE

Collingwood traders say Smith Street drug deals harm business.

Smith Street traders' demand for more undercover police to patrol the strip
has been rejected by Victoria Police, despite survey results highlighting
substantial profit losses and widespread security concerns.

Members of the Smith Street Traders Network say heroin dealers are
gravitating towards the area because of ineffective law enforcement,
frightening away customers and destroying the area's image as a traditional
strip shopping centre.

Of 250 surveys issued to traders in the street that borders Collingwood and
Fitzroy, 63 were completed. The results reveal that 39 of the businesses
responding to the survey lost, on average, $1200 a week over the past 12
months because of drug dealing. Forty-three people were laid off due to the
drop in trade.

Almost half the respondents said they had been forced to increase security
measures. Fifty-two respondents believe the heroin trade is affecting
business; only three respondents said concern for their staff's personal
satery had not increased in the past year.

Many businesses reported robberies by people believed to be heroin addicts.

In contrast to earlier reports, most respondents were not enthusiastic about
hiring a private security firm to patrol the strip, but 80 per cent believed
the police should take more responsibility.

One of the survey organisers. Mr Diarmuid Hannigan, said there were not
enough police to cope with the problem.

He said as a result, Smith Sweet attracted dealers and users from all over
the city who demonstrated a complete disregard for the law "because it's
just not there".

The dealing "gravitates to the easiest point, to where it's most
comfortable. And that's Smith Street, because it's been allowed to be a
comfortable area ... We as traders are asking: Why do we have to put up with
it?" Mr Hannigan said.

Police Superintendent Ian Winn, whose area of responsibility includes Smith
Street, concedes the strip remains a problem area for police. But he says it
is not the only area in Melbourne where the heroin trade is affecting
businesses.

Superintendent Winn said that, apart from the occasional blitz on the area,
Victoria Police could not justify the allocation of four extra, permanent
undercover staff. The traders made that request at a meeting on Friday,
using the survey results as the basis for their demand.

"The problem such as it is does not justify putting in extra resources,"
Superintendent Winn said. He said a recent three-week-long blitz had
resulted in 98 arrests for 263 offences.

Survey results:

Is the heroin trade affecting business?
Yes: 52
No: 11
Has turnover decreased?
Yes: 39
No: 12
Has your business cut staff in the past 12 months?
Yes: 20
No: 31
Are customers concerned about their security?
Yes: 46
No: 8
Have you had to borrow money to make up tar lost trade?
Yes: 16
No: 41

Source: Smith Street Traders Network, survey

Checked-by: Rolf Ernst