hoptis
Bluelight Crew
- Joined
- May 1, 2002
- Messages
- 11,083
Sniffer dogs on patrol
Bronwyn Cummings
Thursday, April 3, 2008
POLICE sniffer dogs will be used to catch people carrying drugs in city pubs, nightclubs and streets in a blitz against crime in the CBD.
Police have warned drug users could be sniffed out "anywhere, any time".
The dogs, based in Brisbane, will be used regularly by Cairns police as part of Operation Amazon to reduce liquor, drug and behaviour offences in the city, particularly in licensed venues.
Acting Insp Mick Dowie said the canine cops should deter partygoers from consuming a volatile mixture of drugs and alcohol.
He said people could be sniffed out at any time in Cairns and other regional towns, in public places or in or near licensed venues.
The last time sniffer dogs were used in the CBD was at an Esplanade rave event in April last year when 10 arrests were made.
"The public can expect to see a variety of enforcement strategies being introduced to the city in the near future," acting Insp Dowie said.
"Drug detection dogs, for example, will become a regular feature in licensed premises throughout the city and greater region."
But Queensland Civil Liberties Council vice president Terry O’Gorman said the action targeted the wrong people.
"We’ve been opposed to the use of sniffer dogs for some time," Mr O’Gorman said.
"It’s gesture policing and any dealer with half a brain is not going to deal in and around clubs if there are dogs around.
"They are targeting the user end of the chain, not the dealer end that they should be."
Cairns City Licensee Safety Association president Paul Garnham said the city’s licensees had nothing to fear by the presence of the dogs. "It’s going to make it a much safer place for all concerned," Mr Garnham said.
Acting Insp Dowie said as Operation Amazon continued, operations Headline 4 and Resolve were now also up and running.
He said a dedicated group of detectives, general police and intelligence officers were targeting the people committing unprovoked assaults, including those of a sexual nature, after the success of Headline 3 that focused on unlawful entry and robbery offenders.
Cairns Post