Page 4657 - Week 12 - Thursday, 15 October 2009
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ACT Policing is a strong supporter of this program to the extent that police referrals to this program have grown 1025% since the program’s inception in 2001, and 235% in the last four years (from financial year 2004-2005 until 2008-2009).
2. ACT Policing does not target drug consumers for drug related offences and dedicates resources on apprehending drug providers with the intention of reducing the supply of illicit drugs.
The primary reason there is a high proportion of arrests for drug consumers as opposed to drug providers is that drug consumers are often apprehended by police for committing other offences, at which time possession of illicit drugs is detected as a supplement to the initial offence detected. This rationale, and the proportion of arrests for drug consumers in the ACT, is consistent with almost all other jurisdictions in Australia.
The secondary reason for there being a high proportion of arrests for drug consumers as opposed to drug providers is that some suspected drug providers, when apprehended by police, are in possession of a trafficable amount of illicit drugs. However when the trafficable amount of illicit drugs is analysed, the purity of the drugs is sufficiently low that the amount of drugs is below the trafficable quantity prescribed in the ACT Drug Schedules. These persons are subsequently charged with drug possession offences because drug offences in the ACT are based on the pure weight of drugs as opposed to the gross weight of drugs.
In line with reducing demand and harm involving drugs, ACT Policing, in partnership with ACT Health, operates a Drug Diversion Program, which enables police to divert drug consumers detected in possession of a small amount of drugs away from the Criminal Justice System and to ACT Health Drug Programs for evaluation, education and treatment. ACT Policing is a strong supporter of this program to the extent that police referrals to this program have grown 1025% since the program’s inception in 2001, and 235% in the last four years (from financial year 2004-2005 until 2008-2009).
Where possible, those offenders apprehended initially for committing a non-drug related offence, who are also in possession of a small amount of illicit drugs for personal use, are referred to the Drug Diversion Program. However some offenders do not consent to being referred to the Drug Diversion Program and are therefore prosecuted before the court.
3. The following table shows the number of charges relating to apprehensions for drug offences reported by ACT Policing for the period 01 July 2000 to 30 June 2009.
(Available at the Chamber Support Office)
The following table shows the number of charges from apprehensions for drug offences by clearance and offence type reported by ACT Policing for the period 01 July 2000 to 30 June 2009.
(Available at the Chamber Support Office)
It should be noted that drug offences cleared by Drug Diversion and SCON are reported as lower than those initiated by ACT Policing as a result of offenders failing to comply with these diversionary options, resulting in increased offenders brought before the court.
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