Review of the Police Powers (Drug Detection Trial) Act 2003 - NSW ...
Review of the Police Powers (Drug Detection Trial) Act 2003 - NSW ...
Review of the Police Powers (Drug Detection Trial) Act 2003 - NSW ...
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Foreword<br />
The vehicular trafficking <strong>of</strong> large quantities <strong>of</strong> drugs is a significant law enforcement issue. With increased security at<br />
domestic airports in response to <strong>the</strong> threat <strong>of</strong> terrorism, it would appear that <strong>the</strong> road-based movement <strong>of</strong> drugs is<br />
now a more appealing option to drug couriers.<br />
Without doubt, police need a variety <strong>of</strong> strategies to detect generally well-organised drug couriers. The <strong>Police</strong> <strong>Powers</strong><br />
(<strong>Drug</strong> <strong>Detection</strong> <strong>Trial</strong>) <strong>Act</strong> <strong>2003</strong> aimed to equip police with additional powers to tackle <strong>the</strong> vehicular trafficking <strong>of</strong><br />
indictable quantities <strong>of</strong> drugs by allowing police to randomly stop and screen vehicles with drug detection dogs<br />
in areas where <strong>the</strong>re is intelligence and evidence suggesting that drugs are being couriered on a regular basis.<br />
A critical examination <strong>of</strong> this trial and its predecessor — <strong>the</strong> <strong>Police</strong> <strong>Powers</strong> (<strong>Drug</strong> <strong>Detection</strong> in Border Areas <strong>Trial</strong>)<br />
<strong>Act</strong> <strong>2003</strong> — reveals <strong>the</strong> powers are demonstrably ineffectual in assisting police to apprehend drug couriers<br />
on a sustained basis. The inability to conduct operations with a sufficient element <strong>of</strong> surprise due to <strong>the</strong> rapid<br />
dissemination <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> nature and location <strong>of</strong> operations via CB radio and mobile phone networks, as well as <strong>the</strong><br />
limited capacity <strong>of</strong> drug detection dogs to detect <strong>the</strong> scent <strong>of</strong> drugs secreted in heavy vehicles, are inherent flaws for<br />
which <strong>the</strong>re is no simple remedy.<br />
<strong>Police</strong> already have a number <strong>of</strong> tried and proven strategies to identify and apprehend drug couriers. Highway<br />
patrol <strong>of</strong>ficers regularly apprehend drug couriers with significant amounts <strong>of</strong> drugs as a result <strong>of</strong> using <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
intuition, knowledge and experience while conducting ordinary duties. I am confident that <strong>the</strong> cessation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
trial powers will not impact on <strong>the</strong> capacity <strong>of</strong> police to seize drugs being trafficked by road throughout <strong>NSW</strong>.<br />
I trust this report will assist both police and <strong>the</strong> Parliament in assessing <strong>the</strong> effectiveness <strong>of</strong> strategies to tackle <strong>the</strong><br />
vehicular trafficking <strong>of</strong> prohibited drugs.<br />
Bruce Barbour<br />
Ombudsman<br />
<strong>NSW</strong> Ombudsman<br />
<strong>Review</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Police</strong> <strong>Powers</strong> (<strong>Drug</strong> <strong>Detection</strong> <strong>Trial</strong>) <strong>Act</strong> <strong>2003</strong><br />
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