ANDERTON SCOTCHES P WARNING CLAIMS

The Government has dismissed claims that it ignored an urgent letter sent
in May by a Youth Court judge warning of a link between teen prostitutes
and the drug P.

Judge John Walker, of Wellington, wrote to Associate Health Minister Jim
Anderton and Justice Minister Phil Goff on May 9 warning youths were
becoming hooked on pure methamphetamine by being given free samples by
gangs, and teenage girls were being forced into prostitution.

"One of the (Youth) Drug Court participants reported being given 'ice', the
crystallised and purest form of methamphetamine, and using it. She was
fully conversant with the particular manner in which the drug was used," he
wrote.

He said "young girls of Youth Court age are being engaged in prostitution
in Christchurch and there seemed to be some connection between that
activity and the supply of methamphetamine to them."

He expressed fears that a situation similar to Australia a few years ago
had begun. There, "starter kits" of heroin had been sold for $20. A wave of
burglary and violent offending would surely follow.

The judge said he wanted to share the information he had gathered in the
hope that the urgency of the situation would be fully appreciated.

Mr Anderton, chairmanof the ministerial committee on drug policy, wrote
back six days later saying the Government appreciated the urgency of the
situation.

The contents of the judge's letter had been passed to his staff "for their
information".

An offer from Judge Walker to meet government officials about his concerns
was not taken up.

National MP Tony Ryall, who got the letters through the Official
Information Act, said the letter was nothing but a "fob-off".

"All Judge Walker got in response to his concerns was a letter from a tired
Jim Anderton saying he had referred the judge's letter to his staff. No
wonder New Zealand is losing the war on this drug," he said.

The Government had to get tougher on drug-pushing gangs by seizing their
money and assets, to stand any chance of stopping them forcing P on to
young people, Mr Ryall said.

Yesterday, Mr Anderton defended his reply to Judge Walker, saying he had
frequent contact with him and always listened to issues he raised.

The letter's observations were considered as part of the Government's
methamphetamine action plan, which included reclassifying the drug to class
A and giving police and Customs wider powers. "There are lots of things the
Government can be criticised on but taking action against drugs is not one
of them," he said.

He dismissed claims of tardy Government action, saying resources could not
be put into fighting a drug till it had been proved harmful. Links between
prostitution and drugs were "nothing new". "Girls have been engaged in
prostitution because of drugs and alcohol for quite a long time. There is
nothing new about that but the drug P is relatively new," he said.

Judge Walker could not be contacted.