HEROIN ADDICTS TO GET OFF WITH CAUTION

Heroin users caught by police for the first time could be cautioned, not
charged, under an extension of a Victorian drug trial.

Under the moves, the drug pilot scheme, previously covering only marijuana
use, will be expanded to include "low-level use" of any drug.

The cannabis-cautioning part of the pilot would be implemented statewide,
allowing Victoria to become the second State to relax laws on the personal
use of marijuana.

The moves, announced yesterday by Premier Jeff Kennett, immediately sparked
anger from government backbenchers, who said they had not been told of the
changes.

Some said Mr Kennett was flouting an overwhelming vote by his MPs in 1996
rejecting marijuana decriminalisation.

"He is openly defying his partyroom," one MP said. "Two years ago, we said
no to this move, now he's done it on the sly without telling us."

But the proposal was immediately hailed by marijuana decriminalisation
advocate David Penington, who described the announcement as a "step in the
direction" to wider reforms.

Professor Penington said fears the community had concerning the relaxation
of drug laws would gradually abate once it was shown that "new approaches
can work".

Mr Kennett described the $600,000 program as a "wake-up call" for users.

"I do emphasise that this is a warning system only," he said. "Once listed,
if people continue to offend they will be brought before a court."

Chief Police Commissioner Neil Comrie said he had thought long and hard
before agreeing to extend the pilot to other drugs, but now believed "this
project will bring about a reduction in the number of young people who
become hooked on hard drugs".

He said he remained "firmly against" decriminalisation.

It is understood Tasmania's Cabinet yesterday considered a
cannabis-cautioning pilot, while West Australian police are also believed to
be considering one.

South Australia has a system where drug users can avoid court convictions by
entering a diversion program.

The Victorian Drug Diversion Pilot will begin in September in the
Broadmeadows police district, covering the north-western suburbs of
Melbourne - the centre of the previous cannabis-cautioning pilot.

During the cannabis pilot, police cautioned 97 marijuana users and only
eight of them have since reoffended.

The district's commander, Peter Driver, said yesterday his officers had
since cautioned another 80 and he welcomed the opportunity to extend the
trial to other drugs.

Under the proposal, which has not been finalised, users could only be
cautioned if they agreed to be assessed by a treatment centre within five
days.

They would be formally interviewed on tape before they were cautioned and,
if they failed to meet the treatment conditions, conventional charges would
kick in.

"It's along a harm minimisation program ... the quicker we get to the users,
the better," Chief Superintendent Driver said.

The move was welcomed by many in the drug and alcohol treatment field,
including the Salvation Army, which opposes drug decriminalisation.

David Brunt, the director of the Army's drug and alcohol services, said it
gave users a chance to "look at their lives" before entering the criminal
justice system.

George Patriki, a crisis counsellor with the St Kilda Gatehouse service,
which operates an outreach service in Broadmeadows, said he thought the
proposal was "excellent and dangerous".

He said although he could see positives he was also concerned that "more
people may have the courage to traffic. If they carry less than the minimum
amount of drugs, they will only face a caution."

He was also worried there were not enough treatment services to cope with
another mandatory demand.

Checked-by: "Rolf Ernst"