Pubdate: Sat, 24 May 2003
Source: Western Leader (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2003, Independent Newspapers Limited
Contact:  http://www.stuff.co.nz/inl/index/0,1008,0a1500,FF.html
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2237
Author: Melanie Appleton
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

HARVEY WANTS COUNCIL TO GET TOUGH ON DRUG LABS

Waitakere City Mayor Bob Harvey is calling on councils to get tough on 
methamphetamine production.

Mr Harvey will ask other mayors to back his call during the Local 
Government New Zealand Conference in July.

He says every council should use its powers and resources to help police 
fight the war against methamphetamine by keeping an eye out for tell-tale 
signs, such as unreasonably high power and water use and corroded pipes.

"What I want to see is the full use of the powers that local authorities 
have," Mr Harvey says.

"The meth problem is huge and getting worse. We need to work with the 
police to get these creeps behind bars."

His comments follow a Budget announcement promising $6.6 million for two 
specialised police teams dealing specifically with clandestine laboratories.

The Auckland team starts work in January.

Mr Harvey welcomes the police initiative and is seeking further support 
from all councils to tackle methamphetamine, also known as P and speed.

He says methamphetamine is leaving "a trail of crushed families and ruined 
lives as people simply go on a speed spree".

"It has to be brought under control and the police need everyone's help, 
including that of local government," Mr Harvey says.

Waitakere City has been dubbed the methamphetamine capital of New Zealand.

It is also home to the notorious Headhunters gang which has been linked to 
methamphetamine production and distribution and has its headquarters at 
View Rd, Henderson.

Six illegal drug laboratories have been found by police in the city so far 
this year.

Twenty were raided in 2002.

Mr Harvey will also ask Police Minister George Hawkins to supply dedicated 
resources to the detection, decommissioning and prosecution of 
methamphetamine laboratories when he attends the conference.

He says the resources should be additional to existing police staffing 
levels, duties and functions.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom