http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/a-dogged-defence-of-our-drug-sniffers/story-fni0cx12-1227449777259A dogged defence of our drug sniffersAN investigation showing illicit drug use is rife in Sydney’s pubs and clubs proves any moves to disable police powers to use sniffer dogs is “madness”, NSW Justice and Police Minister Troy Grant said yesterday.
The Daily Telegraph yesterday reported 80 per cent of 25 venues in the city and popular suburban venues tested showed patrons were using cocaine and methamphetamine in the toilets.
Mr Grant, who is also the Hospitality, Gaming and Racing Minster, said a campaign by the Greens to stop police using sniffer dogs in licensed venues and in public would rob them of a vital tool in the war on drugs.
“The Telegraph’s article just demonstrates the madness of the Greens who want to rob police of drug detection dogs — an important tool to detect drugs in licensed venues,” he said.
“Anyone using drugs is in clear breach of the law. I am determined for police and liquor enforcement authorities to be fully geared up to tackle this problem.
“Police and the Office of Liquor of Gaming and Racing (OLGR) are working hard to address this issue and I have asked them to identify any additional powers they need to step up the fight.”
“We’re a mirror to the rest of the community,’’ he said, adding that cracking down on illicit drug use in licensed venues was an issue the AHA had been pushing for a number of years.
“If look at the statistics for the last five years the increase right across NSW, not just in licensed venues, for these drugs, detection and possession, has been over 150 per cent.
“The fact that people are doing this behind locked doors in cubical means the people involved know it’s an offence too.”
Mr Green said cracking down on illicit drug use in licensed venues was an issue the AHA had been pushing for a number of years.
“All licensed premises have a zero tolerance to illicit drugs. They could lose their licence if drug supply is detected on their premises. There is nothing for a licensee to be gained for knowing about drug use and doing nothing about it,” he said.
Mr Green said the AHA worked closely with police and supported closing Erskineville’s Imperial Hotel for 72 hours after alleged drug use by staff last month.
NSW Police said it targeted all levels of the drug trade.
“We use a combination of overt and covert strategies and target all levels of the supply chain, including targeted and random operations inside licensed premises,” a spokeswoman said.
“Various criminal groups are involved in the manufacture and supply illicit drugs, and that includes Outlaw Motor Cycle Gangs.
“These criminals have no regard for the health or wellbeing of the community; they are only concerned with profits.”
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SYDNEY PUBS ‘FLOODED WITH COCAINE’
NSW Australian Hotels Association spokesman John Green said statistics showing detection of cocaine sky rocketing by nearly 90 per cent and ecstasy 22 per cent in the year to March in licensed venues was not a surprise: