DRUG WAR STALLS: SCIENTISTS SWAMPED

The battle to stem what police say is a tidal wave of pure methamphetamine
is being hampered by a severe shortage of scientists qualified to analyse
samples from suspected laboratories.

Wayne Chisnall, forensics general manager at Environmental Science and
Research, said the institute had only three scientists, assisted by two
technicians, trained to carry out the tests.

In the year to June 30, police busted 154 labs nationwide, more than twice
the number of the year before.

The shortage of scientists has led to a backlog of 94 samples - 27 of them
more than six months old - and raised concerns that people charged with
making the drug are free to continue their work while awaiting trial.

The analysis work is a vital part of the campaign to stamp out pure
methamphetamine, also known as "P", because samples must be positively
identified before court cases can proceed.

It is laborious work because the scientists must first attend busted labs
to gather samples, then analyse them, a task that takes at least a month.

Mr Chisnall agreed the shortage was causing concern, and the institute had
launched a recruitment campaign to double the number of scientists working
in the field.

"There is severe pressure on us to meet the demands. It is not now a
funding issue, it is a catch-up issue.

"It has caught people by surprise.

"Of course there's a problem, and I don't think anybody is trying to duck
that, but it is not just a matter of going down to your local Winz."

Scientists analysing methamphetamine samples had to have a masters degree
in chemistry and underwent a further two years' specialist training. There
were plans to fast-track that training with intensive courses run by
overseas experts.

In the short term, the institute hoped to bring in a scientist from Canada
to help with the backlog. The institute had previously seconded two
scientists from Australia.

A police spokesman said the problems at the institute were not a funding
issue, but stemmed from a lack of trained scientists.

ACT NZ police spokeswoman Muriel Newman said the backlog would allow people
caught in suspected labs to continue plying their trade for up to two years
before going to trial. That was how long police officers had been told they
would have to wait for samples to be analysed.

"You have got this big bottleneck and that bottleneck means crime is not
being solved and offenders are not being caught and sentenced."

Her concerns were echoed by Police Association vice-president Richard
Middleton.

"I know of officers who have found meth labs and they are still waiting for
results a year after the event. The court case just gets put off."

He did not know of cases in New Zealand in which a person suspected of
making methamphetamine had been caught manufacturing the drug again while
awaiting trial, but there had been several in Australia, where there were
delays of up to 18 months.

"The only way they stop is when they are inside."