Pubdate: Mon, 17 Dec 2007 Source: Press, The (New Zealand) Copyright: 2007 The Christchurch Press Company Ltd. Contact: http://www.press.co.nz/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/349 Author: GILES BROWN FEWER DRUG CONVICTIONS AS USE GROWS The number of convictions for drug offences has dropped 13 per cent over the past 10 years despite the use of drugs increasing. The falling conviction rate is largely due to a decrease in cannabis convictions, although convictions for hard-drug crime have nearly doubled. Figures released this week by Statistics New Zealand show 3389 convictions were made for cannabis-related offences in 2006, compared with 6289 in 1997. There were 1189 convictions relating to other drugs _ more than double the 528 in 1997. Detective Senior Sergeant David Long, chief of the Christchurch drug squad, said use of drugs was rising "exponentially". "I think there are more resources going into tackling serious drug problems with meth (methamphetamine or P), and we have to devote them for a longer period of time before we conduct an arrest," he said. "If the overall number of arrests has dropped, I wouldn't think the amount of drug use has reduced at all." He said the police focused more on the "serious" drugs, but cannabis was still considered harmful because it was stronger than it had been. "Maybe the sentences the court gives now for minor possession of cannabis are reflective of society's view of it," he said. Long said the number of convictions needed to be balanced against the amount of reported drug crime for which police could take no action. The Statistics New Zealand figures draw a distinction between cannabis and drugs such as methamphetamine, ecstasy and cocaine. Ross Bell, executive director of the New Zealand Drug Foundation, said the figures could indicate a change in attitude to drugs. "I think it has been a natural thing that drug-enforcement agencies recognise it is more important to focus on drugs like meth than cannabis," Bell said. "The police need to make a judgment about what they prioritise." The chief executive of the Alcohol and Drug Association New Zealand, Kate Kearney, said alternatives to convicting drug users should be used. "Research shows that coercion is the best way," she said. "Even people who are resistant to treatment in the first place will stick with a programme." - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart