POLICE SLAM IDEA OF RANDOM SNIFFER-DOG CHECKS FOR DRUGS

BRISBANE -- The state government's announcement it was considering using
sniffer dogs for random drug checks was a meaningless publicity stunt, the
Queensland Police Union said today.

Police Minister Tony McGrady yesterday said he was monitoring a NSW trial
that used sniffer dogs to randomly search people at hotels, dance parties
and on public transport.

But union president Gary Wilkinson said the initiative would have "very
little effect on drug dealers" and would do nothing to capture the drug
world's Mr Bigs.

"If the Beattie government is serious about the war on drugs they would be
announcing measures to catch the drug importers and manufacturers," Mr
Wilkinson said in a statement.

"We've been calling on the Beattie government to give police telephone
interception powers for six months now.

"The war on drugs requires a comprehensive approach to reduce the amount of
drugs available on our streets," he said.