Mrs Roberts questions the Minister for Police about strategies to address alarming trends in illicit drug use and seizures in WA, as highlighted by the Australian Crime Commission report. The Minister's response outlines existing police strategies but lacks specific details.

AnsweredQoN 201Legislative Assembly
Asked
23 May 2013
Portfolio
Police

QuestionView source ↗

POLICE —
ILLICIT DRUG STRATEGY
201. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS to the Minister for Police:
I refer to the release this week of the annual Australian
Crime Commission ''Illicit Drug Data Report'', which shows that
Western Australia has the highest amphetamine use in the country, heroin with
the highest purity, a marked decrease in cocaine and steroid seizures and an
increase in the seizure of hallucinogens.
(1) What measures will the government undertake to arrest
these alarming trends?
(2) Has the minister discussed this government's
illicit drug strategy with the Commissioner of Police?
(3) If yes to (2), what is that strategy?
(4) If no to (2), why not?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for the question.
(1)–(4)
The publication of these reports and their statistics are a very useful tool
for the states to benchmark their progress and to benchmark the trends in their
communities against other jurisdictions in Australia. Western Australia Police
have a number of strategies in place to address clandestine drug labs and
illicit drugs in the community and to combat organised crime. It does a number
of targeted operations in various different districts. Broadly speaking —
Mrs M.H. Roberts :
It is a pretty bad report!
The SPEAKER :
Member for Midland!
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
Broadly speaking, Western Australia Police will target their operations around
specific drugs and specific offenders as the information comes to hand as to
where they need to focus their attention to have the best effect to remove
drugs and the sellers of drugs from our streets.

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