phase_dancer
Bluelight Crew
- Joined
- Mar 12, 2001
- Messages
- 6,179
beep beep…Excuse me Sir
Brisbane paper ‘The Courier Mail’ posted this front page story yesterday.
‘Queensland Police could soon use drug sniffer dogs and hand held detection devices at public events such as youth rave parties and outdoor rock festivals.
Police minister Tony McGrady yesterday gave the green light to use the controversial investigative aids in police searches and drug raids. Senior police said that if the specially trained powder sniffing dogs and machines delivered the expected results, their use could be expanded to rave parties, outdoor musical festivals and other areas popular among drug-users.’
[Here’s a scary good bit!]
‘The highly sensitive ion scanner machines can detect vapours and trace particles of a range of drugs, including cocaine, heroin, cannabis, amphetamine, ecstasy and the date rape drug GBH [wrong abbreviation again: phase] within 15 seconds of exposure… ’
The rest of the article goes on about the usual police justification, with a comment or two from a true public servant Terry O’Gorman about civil liberties, and another from Youth Advocacy Center Director Paul Spooner claiming dogs and scanners were a blanket measure where any person would be made to feel like a criminal.
Mental Picture of future headline: Stolen police scanners used by ravers to locate the best drugs
I bet they would be worthy little devices though. The article states 2 handheld meters cost $140,000. US customs has had them for years, and rumors abound that Aus customs has em as well.
Does this mean future drug dealers be wearing ion beam deflective clothing?
Lets imagine the probable outcome if these scanners were to be introduced and proved “effective”.
1) Punters would party at home more. Not necessarily less dangerous, but perhaps more difficult to reach with emergency assistance.
2) People would be more tempted to swallow all before going in to a club/ party / whatever. The thinking drug manufacture could also coat tablets, making them dissolve slowly.
3) Suspicion would rise between the public and harm minimisation groups effectively undoing trust developed, trust that saves lives.
In the end I don’t think much would be gained by the police by using scanners. Most likely they would get mainly small users and the odd not so smart dealer. And like you all I can think of many things that 140k could be better spent on.
Brisbane paper ‘The Courier Mail’ posted this front page story yesterday.
‘Queensland Police could soon use drug sniffer dogs and hand held detection devices at public events such as youth rave parties and outdoor rock festivals.
Police minister Tony McGrady yesterday gave the green light to use the controversial investigative aids in police searches and drug raids. Senior police said that if the specially trained powder sniffing dogs and machines delivered the expected results, their use could be expanded to rave parties, outdoor musical festivals and other areas popular among drug-users.’
[Here’s a scary good bit!]
‘The highly sensitive ion scanner machines can detect vapours and trace particles of a range of drugs, including cocaine, heroin, cannabis, amphetamine, ecstasy and the date rape drug GBH [wrong abbreviation again: phase] within 15 seconds of exposure… ’
The rest of the article goes on about the usual police justification, with a comment or two from a true public servant Terry O’Gorman about civil liberties, and another from Youth Advocacy Center Director Paul Spooner claiming dogs and scanners were a blanket measure where any person would be made to feel like a criminal.
Mental Picture of future headline: Stolen police scanners used by ravers to locate the best drugs
I bet they would be worthy little devices though. The article states 2 handheld meters cost $140,000. US customs has had them for years, and rumors abound that Aus customs has em as well.
Does this mean future drug dealers be wearing ion beam deflective clothing?
Lets imagine the probable outcome if these scanners were to be introduced and proved “effective”.
1) Punters would party at home more. Not necessarily less dangerous, but perhaps more difficult to reach with emergency assistance.
2) People would be more tempted to swallow all before going in to a club/ party / whatever. The thinking drug manufacture could also coat tablets, making them dissolve slowly.
3) Suspicion would rise between the public and harm minimisation groups effectively undoing trust developed, trust that saves lives.
In the end I don’t think much would be gained by the police by using scanners. Most likely they would get mainly small users and the odd not so smart dealer. And like you all I can think of many things that 140k could be better spent on.
