Source: West Australian, The (Australia)
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Website: http://www.metroactive.com/metro/
Pubdate: Wed, 14 Oct 1998
Author: Kirsten Watts

CANNABIS NOT SOLE FOCUS: POLICE

THE WA Police Service has denied claims that it devotes a big part of its
resources to tackling cannabis use.

Yesterday The West Australian reported that most people charged with drug
offences last year were under 25.

University of WA criminologist Dave Indermaur said he believed police were
focusing too much attention on catching cannabis users.

The use of cannabis accounted for almost 75 per cent of drug charges last
year but Mr Indermaur said police resources could be put to better use
combating more serious drugs.

But Det-Insp. Ken Post, of the crime operations unit, said yesterday
cannabis offences accounted for such a big proportion of WA's drug charges
because it was the most commonly used drug.

"We focus on all drug use, not just cannabis," he said.

But Opposition family and children's services spokeswoman Megan Anwyl said
it was clear that young cannabis users were a soft target for police. The
fact that many young people did not have enough money to conduct their
social lives off the streets meant that police had an easy job of catching
them if they used cannabis.

South Metro Community Drug Service Team manager Kathryn Kemp said her
service was being inundated with people of all ages and all walks of life
seeking help with their drug habits. About 150 people came through the door
each month.

The service encouraged people to stop using drugs but that was not always
possible.

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Checked-by: Joel W. Johnson