Pubdate: Fri, 30 Jun 2006
Source: Herald Sun (Australia)
Copyright: 2006 Herald and Weekly Times
Contact:  http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/187
Author:     Mark Buttler and Jacqueline Freegard
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)

HEROIN PLAN GETS OK

RESIDENTS, business owners and Premier Steve Bracks have backed a 
radical police plan to ban heroin addicts and dealers from Footscray.

Under the crackdown, magistrates would be asked to place convicted 
addicts and dealers from outside the area on orders banning them from 
the City of Maribyrnong.

Although critics said the problem would just be shifted elsewhere, 
locals said they had been putting up with the heroin trade for many 
years and it was time they got some relief.

Every Footscray business owner contacted by the Herald Sun yesterday 
backed the scheme, dubbed Project Reduction.

Footscray Auto Care manager Alan Marshall said so many other 
initiatives had failed, it was time to try something different.

"I've been stepping over them (addicts) for years. They've got to 
give it a go," Mr Marshall said.

Footscray Halal Meats manager Julian Bayratar he did not like 
bringing his son into work because of what he might see.

Six other local business operators and residents contacted backed 
Project Reduction, which will begin tomorrow.

Mr Bracks said he supported the program: "It deserves a go to see if 
that dispersement can have an effect. It deserves a go."

City of Maribyrnong Mayor Janet Rice said she was disappointed the 
council did not know of the plan until yesterday.

Cr Rice said the council and relevant health and social agencies 
should have known so a more comprehensive strategy could be put into place.

"We're surprised the police didn't tell us about it before we read it 
in the Herald Sun this morning," she said.

"Questioning people in the street and banning people from our city is 
just going to move the problem somewhere else."
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman