DRUG MAKERS FREED TO REOFFEND AS LABS TESTED

Drug cooks caught making methamphetamine are reoffending on bail because of
a two-year wait for trial.

The Police Association says the delay is due to a huge backlog in
scientific evidence tests.

The government has confirmed serious delays at Environmental Science and
Research (ESR), which is swamped with a backlog of evidence from close to
100 speed labs.

It is understood detectives have been told they will have to wait up to two
years for vital evidence necessary for court cases against speed cooks -
allowing offenders to be released on bail and make more drugs.

Police headquarters confirmed last week detectives had uncovered a record
146 labs so far this year.

The backlog is due to a big increase in speed and "P" lab discoveries - ESR
has budgeted for 20 labs a year but this year the number is expected to top
200.

Police national crime manager Rob Pope said ESR was recruiting qualified
scientists and funding was not the reason for delays.

Lab tests cost police close to $300,000 in the last financial year.

Police Minister George Hawkins confirmed 97 labs were awaiting testing,
with 27 of those waiting more than six months.

Police Association president Greg O'Connor said police had to turn a blind
eye to some labs.

The backlog made a mockery of a supposed war on methamphetamine, he said.

"Senior police have told me this week there is no point tying up staff for
two years to secure a prosecution and unless they stumble across a lab they
can't afford to police them.

"If they make an arrest there is no point trying to keep someone in custody
for two years before a trial, there's Bill of Rights issues that mean
they'll walk free long before their day in court.

"There's no deterrent when they're out on bail committing and still making
speed, it's doing nothing to counter this epidemic."

Frontline officers had been "left scratching their heads" at police
managers' claims they were not told about escalating methamphetamine
manufacture.

ESR general manager Wayne Chisnall confirmed the agency was trying to
secure more staff, including the secondment of a Canadian expert to boost
"people power". The backlog was due to ESR staff having to accompany police
to lab scenes, which were complex and dangerous to break down given the
volatile chemicals used.

"It's accepted there are delays," Chisnall said.

"We were expecting 20 labs a year, last year we processed 150 and this year
it'll be more like 200. It takes two years to train scientists and
technicians but we're looking to fast-track more staff."

Act MP Muriel Newman said police efforts to smash methamphetamine rings
were being hampered by government "lip service".

"There are communities crying out for help, and the police have the ability
and the motivation to act but not the resources, it's an indictment on this
government's attitude to the methamphetamine epidemic."

The government announced $6.6 million over three years in this year's
budget for two more police teams to clean up speed labs.