Ice use ‘is out of control’

AN “ice epidemic” has been blamed for a surge in drug-related crimes in Wodonga and Wangaratta.

The Victorian opposition has lashed funding cuts to Victoria Police by the Napthine government after releasing statistics that show a 37 per cent rise in drug-related crime in Wodonga, and a 28 per cent jump in Wangaratta over a four-year period.

But the North East’s police boss has defended the efforts of his team, saying the increases could be the result of better police work.

“I think we have to be cautious in regards to the interpretation of data,” North East Supt Paul O’Halloran said.

“Often drug detection is a result of greater police targeted investigations and enforcement.”

But the opposition claimed it was funding cuts to police that were partly to blame for the increase in crimes.

“I think it’s really clear that if Victoria Police are having to find savings in their budget, that is a contributing factor,” shadow minister for police and emergency services Wade Noonan said.

“It’s important to be clear that the Napthine government forced the chief commissioner to find $100 million worth of savings from his budget.

“... He was forced to cut 400 positions from his staff across the state.”

According to the statistics, almost 50 new drug offences including cultivation, manufacture, trafficking,  possession and use are recorded every week.

The figures cover 11 major regional centres in Victoria.

While Mr Noonan said Mr Napthine had abandoned regional Victoria, he said his own party wouldn’t make announcements in response to the ice epidemic until it was closer to the state election.

“I think what we will do is we will wait to have a look at a parliamentary enquiry report from a parliamentary committee that has been looking into this ice epidemic problem for more than 12 months,” he said.

“They are likely to have a series of recommendations, that will form Labor’s policies.”

Despite the role of funding cuts to Victoria Police, Mr Noonan also said it’s not just up to the police to solve the issue.

“The issue of ice is a community issue, we are not going to police our way to a solution, police will play a large role, but if there is a demand for drug, there will always be problems with supply.

“There is very little evidence to suggest that police are winning this war.”

Supt O’Halloran agreed that tackling the ice problem in regional Victoria would need to be a community effort.

“In relation to the drug trends, Victoria Police with partner agencies will be developing a holistic strategy based on harm prevention and supply reduction,” Supt O’Halloran said.