SILENCED ON DRUG POLICIES, SAYS POLICE CHIEF

The Police Commissioner, Mr Ryan, disclosed figures yesterday which suggest
that heroin use is increasing, but said he would no longer involve himself
in alternative drug policies after being warned to stay silent by State
politicians

In a wide-ranging interview on the first anniversary of the report of the
Wood Royal Commission into police corruption, Mr Ryan said that in one town
with a population of about 30,000, a needle exchange had recorded 3,000
needles handed in over four weeks.

"It does give an indication of a trend, and the trend has obviously been
growing," he said.

Mr Ryan said heroin abuse in particular was the major underlying cause of
most crime involving property. But how society tackled drug abuse "has got
to be a political decision".

"I am charged with the enforcement side and I've already been told to mind
my own business when it comes to anything else so that I will do and just
continue with the enforcement side."

Mr Ryan said that it was essential that better border controls be developed
to help control the amount of narcotics pouring into Australia through
containers, people arriving by aircraft, and ships anchoring kilometres
offshore.

He said that while many positive improvements had happened in the past
year, "it's a five-year process of change, in some cases a generation. I
cannot fix it in 12 months".

The involvement of his Deputy Commissioner, Mr Jeff Jarratt, in a Police
Integrity Commission (PIC) inquiry had "deflected" from other police
issues.

Mr Ryan admitted that he was being overwhelmed by the number of official
bodies - including the PIC, ICAC and the Ombudsman - watching the force.
While he understood that it was too soon after the royal commission to
remove some of the watchdogs, "I think we have to be given more trust".

At the same time, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Nick Cowdery, QC,
criticised the Carr Government for what he said was its failure to provide
funds to deal with the vast amount of work arising from both the royal
commission and the PIC.

Mr Ryan also said that he now regretted his outburst at the Nagano Winter
Olympics when he attacked unnamed senior colleagues for "white-anting" him.

Checked-by: jwjohnson@netmagic.net (Joel W. Johnson)