Hale lashes out at use of dogs
Greens NSW police spokeswoman Sylvia Hale has lashed out at sniffer dog tactics, just weeks before the Mardi Gras season begins.
Hale, who last year raised questions over the police presence at Sleaze Ball with Police Minister Michael Daley, has again questioned the effectiveness of sniffer dog operations.
“Based on conviction rates, police sniffer dog operations are a waste of public money and a waste of police time,” Hale said.
“Police should concentrate on real crime and alcohol-related violence and stop treating ordinary people as criminals.”
Hale placed the failure rate of sniffer dogs at 75 percent while she maintained conviction rates were low.
“The dogs are not catching people with indictable amounts of drugs and they rarely detect anyone with heroin. Yet the statutory purpose of the dogs is to identify drug suppliers.
“It is absurd to suggest that major drug dealers will sit around in a pub with large quantities of drugs on them. The only way to bust the larger dealers is through proper police work.
“As for actual convictions, the figure is small because most people are found with a small amount of cannabis and receive a caution.”
I am no fan of drugs. However The Greens have it right. NSW Police be more efficient and go after the dealers. They are the scum making profits off people’s misery. No more use of dogs to show you are doing something on drugs that the politicians can point to. The money saved could stop the criminal drug dealers and even have some left over to go after the gay bashers.
Get rid of those sniffer dogs NSW Government ! They are a waste of time and make innocent people feel like criminals ! I went out for a quiet drink to the Bank on a Wednesday night and police and sniffer dogs came through – I felt my civil rights were viloated ! Start cracking down on violence and leave us well behaved patrons alone.
Stop making what was a wonderful state now into a police state !
peace love ecstacy