SPEED COOKS STILL IN BUSINESS WHILE ON BAIL

Drug cooks caught making methamphetamine are reoffending while on bail
because of a two-year wait to go on 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 continue
to make drugs.

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

Police Association president Greg O'Connor said police now 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."

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 .