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Random car stops for drugs
By Simon Benson, State Political Reporter
October 25, 2006 12:00
POLICE will be given the power to randomly stop and search any vehicle for drugs using sniffer dogs. / The Daily Telegraph
POLICE will be given the power to randomly stop and search any vehicle for drugs using sniffer dogs.
The controversial crackdown will force drivers to be subjected to stop and seize blitzes by police across the state.
The Daily Telegraph has been told the trial will be announced today following a report which the Government has been sitting on for more than two years.
The police have claimed that until now they have been restricted in their ability to control drugs coming across the border.
It requires a warrant to be issued by a court to set up a drug-sniffing operation on the roads, and police were limited to a specific location.
Under the trial expected to be announced today by Police Minister Carl Scully, they will now be able to conduct snap raids without warrants.
The trial will be announced today ahead of an Ombudsman's report due to be released which is expected to be critical of the lack of action by the Government on its previous report from 2003.
The report of the Ombudsman's review of the legislation in 2003 has not been released by the Government and is still being sat on.
Police intelligence has identified road transport as being the major supply routes for drugs coming into NSW.
A trial covering the state's borders has been underway for some time. But now it will be extended to cover all roads outside Sydney, Wollongong and Newcastle.
Mr Scully claimed the screening of cars would take about one minute.
Drivers will be required to stop and park with the driver's side window wound down while a drug sniffing dog passes around the vehicle.
"NSW Police will be able to stop and screen any vehicle on any rural main road across the state," said Mr Scully.
Daily Telegraph