Campaign throws costly sniffer-dog searches off the scent

[poledriver]

Campaign throws costly sniffer-dog searches off the scent

A campaign spearheaded by the NSW Greens against the invasive use of police drug dog searches has highlighted the ineffectiveness of the operations and reduced them.

The ‘Sniff Off’ campaign targets the ineffective and invasive use of drug dogs by the NSW Police.

Documents obtained by the NSW Greens under Freedom of Information show the campaign is having an impact on reducing drug dog searches.

Greens MP David Shoebridge said ‘the widespread publication of data that demonstrates the continuing false positive rates and ineffectiveness of police drug dogs since 2011 has forced a reduction in police drug dog operations’.

‘In 2011 the NSW police searched 16,459 people after a positive drug dog indication with 78 per cent of people searched being found to carry no drugs,’ Mr Shoebridge said.

‘After four years of embarrassing media on the high false positive rate the number of people searched fell to 12,893 with a false positive rate of 69 per cent.’

North coast unreasonably targeted

The documents also show total searches and false positive rates for each of 76 Police Local Area Commands. The figures show that parts of the state are targeted for drug dog operations, despite extraordinarily low rates of drugs being found as a result of searches. Redfern and Liverpool stand out as LACs in the top ten by searches conducted but the bottom ten by rate of drugs found.

Tweed/Byron consistently has among the highest number of searches in the state, and is the only Local Area Command outside of Sydney to make the top 10.

tweed-byron-drug-search-stats -

In 2014 Tweed Byron had the third most searches in the state, despite having only the 24th lowest false positive rate. In 2015, Tweed/Byron again had the third most searches in the state but dropped to 27th lowest false positive rate.

The false positive rate over both years was between 64-67 per cent meaning 1,221 people were subjected to intrusive personal searches despite not carrying drugs.

Police ‘pull head in’

Mr Shoebridge said the figures show that parts of the state are targeted for drug dog operations ‘despite extraordinarily low rates of drugs being found as a result of searches’.

‘Redfern and Liverpool stand out as LACs in the top ten by searches conducted but the bottom ten by rate of drugs found,’ he said.

‘Five years of close scrutiny of police drug dog operations has seen police pull their head in a bit and reduce the number of searches by more than 20 per cent.

‘We would like to have stopped them all, but this is a start.

‘Even though search numbers have dropped the dogs are still getting it wrong nearly 70 percent of the time. In Redfern, this figure rises to 80 per cent.

‘Getting the data out there, and especially the strong support for the Sniff Off page, has forced more accountability on the police.

‘Sniff Off shows that when you have more than 21,000 people monitoring and reporting on police drug dog behaviour you can force positive change even on the NSW Police.

‘Out of 76 Local Area Commands, Redfern saw the sixth most searches in 2015 despite being ranked 67 in actually finding drugs.

‘The government needs to explain why Redfern is being consistently over-policed.

‘The figures show Redfern isn’t awash in drugs, but we do know it has a large population of young people and a vibrant Aboriginal community.

‘In 2015, 8,874 totally innocent people were surrounded by dogs and police in public, made to empty their pockets and bags, and then subjected to a humiliating public search by police based on a false positive by a drug dog.

‘It is simply unacceptable that given the wealth of evidence that shows the scheme is failing that thousands of people are still being subject to pointless searches.

‘We want the police to be targeting serious crime such as domestic violence, fraud and firearms offences not frittering away millions of tax dollars with the useless drug dog program,’ Mr Shoebridge said.

http://www.echo.net.au/2016/09/campaign-throws-costly-sniffer-dog-searches-off-scent/

 

[chugs]

The cops are fucking parasites and failures, especially in NSW, VIC and QLD.

I don't understand how they can read the ACC Drug Report and look at the last 40 years and wonder how it is that they have succeeded in doing anything meaningful when it comes to reducing supply or demand.

We are talking about thousands, tens of thousands of operations. Tons upon tons of drugs captured. Hundreds of thousands of people arrested, millions of charges and people sentenced to decades in prison. We are talking about unprecedented powers to intercept communications and obtain data (without a warrant i.e. 282's under the telco act).

And yet in almost every single city or town i can find drug dealers and get on.....within twenty minutes of leaving my house. Hell if i wanted to be sophisticated about it I can have the shit mailed to my door from anywhere around the planet. I can literally get any drug now.

What else is there for the cops to do. What strategies, interceptions or operations can they do to put an end to the drug war. Shit lets not even look for a total win but just a partial reduction of supply of say 20%. What could cops do with the $3.2b they get right now in NSW to stop drugs in NSW?

How about letting them execute drug users and dealers like that they did in Thailand. Well even that failed. The Thai experiment did nothing to stop the the trafficking and use of drugs.


Come on you lurkers working for law enforcement......come and tell us that you're not a failure, not a parasite leaching billions from our taxes and ultimately pissing that money up the wall. Tell us how your entire career and work hasn't been useless and that you can actually stop the drugs.

Because as far as the evidence shows. It is you that are the problem. That all that money we waste on you prosecutors, the judicary, cops and correctional officers would be better spent running far cheaper early intervention, public housing and legalised drug programs that would save the current generation of kids from being abused and turning to drugs.

 

[dopemaster]

If you don't like police sniffer dogs you can pepper spray your doormats of your home and the sides of you car.

The dog won't bust anyone that day and I find sniffer dogs in the USA to be unconstitutional because you can train an animal to react a certain way to anything to it just allows profiling and a direct violation of the 4th amendment in terms of unreasonable search and seizrure.

I get typecasted and usually when I am clean and sober is when I feel most discriminated against. I am a guy who looks mean but isn't, I can't help my build (look a bit tough, rough around the edges, and maybe a bit afeminate due to stomach problems) and yeah I have ink but my ink isn't bullshit, it is very positive and well done stuff done in a highly artistic nature and as an artist I find that a direct threat to the 1st amendment and the right for life liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

So yeah I have tattoos but police are taught tattoos=criminal. I don't mind police doing their job but they are not screened for ethics and taught to stereotype and bully people. When police are allowed and encouraged to lie to people to try to find something and there is a pressure to meet a quota of arrests due to the for profit prison and bail system it is just a losing battle and rather facist.

People have become comfortably complacent until things happen to them. I have had to yell please don't shoot me several times and I intentionally made it so people would see it because I was at gunpoint by the law just being detained, while unarmed and not resisting and at those times actually not found guilty but still beat but I was just glad to not be shot or tasered. I shouldn't have to beg for my life when I am detained because I just fit the description and that was it.

Those who want to stay out of it won't care until it happens to them and I suppose that 12 step programs tell you it was your fault you were pulled over for your race, your social class, where you live, or someone called the law cuz they just can make stuff of and heresy should not be probable cause.

I have been through probable cause situations more than once because I made a stand by fighting the charges I was not guilty of but now that is no longer an option because if you plead not guilty you are going to get convicted because the general assumption is that if it goes to trial you must be a criminal and if you don't take a plea, well it is just so much time to look at whether you did anything or not.

So yeah I can't make another stand if anything happens and would rather plead guilty and be able to go home and hug my family members and even there I am bending my morals because you can't win in a rigged game and life is no game. It is a sad state of affairs and I don't know how the word of one cop beats that of multiple people. It is a sad state of affairs when they expect a guilty plea, whether or not you committed a crime or even did something wrong.

If we don't fight for our rights, who will? Peaceful protest are looked down on and there is always someone there paid off by the man to make it not peaceful and well it shouldn't always be peaceful when the powers that be are in the wrong but I find the only way to fight back is on the low with cleverness and knowledge as knowledge is the only weapon I will use on the unjust at this time.

 

[consumer]

I lived in the Byron area for twenty years. I have seen the dog operations many times. They always target the homeless in the park first, then pubs then walk around the streets and beachfront looking for anyone with dreadlocks or tie dye on. Absolute fuckwits and a waste of money. Move back to Newcastle and never seen a dog in three years.

 

[spacejunk]

^ it's sickening.
I've seen them target train stations here. In other words, people who may be high or whatever, and being responsible in not driving.
But also, lower socioeconomic subset of people.

Really glad to see the Greens standing up for what's right here. The fucking major parties couldnt give a toss, as usual.

 

[consumer]

^ it's sickening.
I've seen them target train stations here. In other words, people who may be high or whatever, and being responsible in not driving.
But also, lower socioeconomic subset of people.

Really glad to see the Greens standing up for what's right here. The fucking major parties couldnt give a toss, as usual.

Yes i have had many friends searched at Newtown and Redfern train stations. Great use of public resources. Picking on the homeless and busting people for empty bags with specs of weed left in it etc in Byron really made my blood boil. Like their lives are not shit enough lets pick on them and get some easy statistics. Meanwhile in the mansions at Wategos the billionaires are racking up coke like its going out of fashion. Its just bullshit.

 

[spacejunk]

Exactly.
As for pubs and clubs in Sydney etc being targeted, the cynic in me (who am i kidding? The cynic is me!) can't help but think that hassling people that may have a joint or something in their possession whilst in a licensed drinking establishment only serves to reinforce the virtually obligatory consumption of highly taxed intoxicants over the unregulated ones.

From a social perspextive, i know i'm a far more law-abiding citizen under the effects of a bit of cannabis than i was when i used to spend a night on the tiles getting loaded on booze (which is partly why i stopped drinking alcohol altogether).

It's an absurd and incredibly senseless situation - and, as you say, a total waste of taxpayer funded resources.
Having a reefer in my pocket is not a criminal offence - so why treat it like one? Harassing "soft targets" does nothing to help the community, and only increases the level of marginalisation experienced by people (like those you describe in Byron) already on the fringes of society.
A potential criminal record (as well as a fine many of these people cannot afford to pay) does nothing but create people more ostracised from the community. Makes me sick.

 

[One Thousand Words]

You do realise the police would target (profile) the same types of people even without the dogs. I'm not saying I like it but it often amazes me the stupidity of some people when it comes to transporting drugs. How many times do large busts start when the police pull over a car for something stupid like speeding or talking on the phone.

Always assume you are going to be stopped. Like it or not drugs are illegal and as such you are an easy target if you have a name badge on telling everyone you are high. If you do need to carry in public make it as difficult as possible for them to find it, dogs or not.

 

[consumer]

You do realise the police would target (profile) the same types of people even without the dogs. I'm not saying I like it but it often amazes me the stupidity of some people when it comes to transporting drugs. How many times do large busts start when the police pull over a car for something stupid like speeding or talking on the phone.

Always assume you are going to be stopped. Like it or not drugs are illegal and as such you are an easy target if you have a name badge on telling everyone you are high. If you do need to carry in public make it as difficult as possible for them to find it, dogs or not.

The dogs have not led to one single large bust of anything. Just the odd joint. Picking on the obvious people in a town full of drugs is not great police work. Especially with the homeless many of whom end up in prison for a joint because they are already on a good behaviour bond. I have written references and attended court for and with many of Byrons homeless who were just easy pickings for police who just want statistics. Never heard of a major dealer busted in a dog search in Byron. In fact everyone knows who does what in that town but nothing changes but thats another story.

 

[spacejunk]

^ exactly. It's lazy policing thay exacerbates social ills, rather than solving anything.

If you saw how i dressed and how i superficially appear, you wouldn't tag me as a person carrying or using drugs.
I've gotten away with all kinds of things because i deliberately avoid being pigeonholed.
I suppose i'm blessed with the good fortune of having a roof over my head, employment, education and not being a target demographic (especially in regards to my ethnicity).

Having said that - do i think that because someone presents in a certain way to police or others, it means they are fair game to police harassment?
I don't think we should accept that is an ok thing for society to take for granted.

Am i careful when i'm carrying? You bet!
I don't (for instance) jaywalk or so anything to draw attention to myself if i have a spliff in my coat pocket or whatever.
But i've had interactions with police officers whilst off my chops on drugs - i have the confidence and nerve to pull it off.

Just because "drugs are illegal", doesn't mean possessing them is committing a criminal act, nor should privacy and dignity stamped on by a power tripper with a badge.
Being poor and existing in the fringes of society is no justification for hassles from police.
Just because it happens doesn't mean it's ok.

 

[One Thousand Words]

do you honestly think the homeless are the only ones targeted by sniffer dogs?

Almost every doof in nnsw has a dog either going into or out of an area. Large events such as splendour are actual promoted as having dogs present.

They are simply a tool in the war on drugs. If you want to be a foot soldier in these battles you learn to wear body armour or camouflage. The fact that there are so many false positives actually works in your favour if you can hide your stash well enough. Imagine the issues you'd have if they had a 95% success rate?

 

[consumer]

do you honestly think the homeless are the only ones targeted by sniffer dogs?

Almost every doof in nnsw has a dog either going into or out of an area. Large events such as splendour are actual promoted as having dogs present.

They are simply a tool in the war on drugs. If you want to be a foot soldier in these battles you learn to wear body armour or camouflage. The fact that there are so many false positives actually works in your favour if you can hide your stash well enough. Imagine the issues you'd have if they had a 95% success rate?

I am talking about dog operations in Byron. Of course Splendour has dogs. I can remember the first year that had them. Did absolutely nothing. The entire crowd was off chops. Perhaps some of the larger doofs get dogs but i have never seen a dog at a doof/party in NNSW. And i have been to a shitload of them ( but not in the last few years)

 

[spacejunk]

do you honestly think the homeless are the only ones targeted by sniffer dogs?

No; look at my other posts in this thread

Almost every doof in nnsw has a dog either going into or out of an area. Large events such as splendour are actual promoted as having dogs present.

Not disputing this either.

They are simply a tool in the war on drugs. If you want to be a foot soldier in these battles you learn to wear body armour or camouflage. The fact that there are so many false positives actually works in your favour if you can hide your stash well enough. Imagine the issues you'd have if they had a 95% success rate?

Sure, but just because i've not personally had any problems with them doesn't mean i think the use of drug- sniffing dogs in public places is justifiable or acceptable use of police resources.

I'm not really clear on what you're arguing, or if you're just disagreeing for disagreement's sake.

Do i want to be a "foot soldier" in the "war on drugs"? No, i dont want any part in it.
The use of dogs just gives police an (increasingly difficult to justify) reason to legally search people who are otherwise not posing a threat to the community or even themselves, for the most part.

If you want to continue with the military theme, they're part of the psychological warfare component of the state's selective war against sectors of the community, in drug prohibition.

The cost of training and using these dogs is obscene, and when used against your average citizen in the manner described in this thread (in nightclub districts, public transport hubs, places where people congregate to socialise or have a good time) - i think the public has every right to demand they be put to better use.

My issue is the deliberate targeting of drug users, of marginalised people and not of the large-scale organised suppliers/importers of drugs.
It is merely an example of a larger trend - police rely partly on drug users as a soft target to justify their job security - and the current model values arrests (and successful prosecutions) over positive social outcomes.

If police were serious about "getting drugs off our streets" or whatever their standard rhetoric is, they would be using these dogs to scrutinise points of entry for drug imports or large-scale movement of drugs domestically - not creating a climate of fear by using them on punters at music festivals, people going about their normal business on the train, or going after soft targets in other public places.

It is disingenous of police to argue that any of these uses of sniffer dogs has any benefit to the community, which is why i welcome the Greens stating the (numerous, and generally very obvious) flaws in the way they are currently utilised.
If anything, the sort of policing using sniffer dogs creates more social problems (decreasing drug users' employment prospects, which increases welfare dependence, petty theft and so on), as well as the documented health risks posed by sniffer dogs being deployed at festivals, including (but not solely) the risk of people overdosing when they ingest everything they're carrying - or people "pre-loading"; dosing recklessly prior to events - which apart from the potentual for harm to those individuals, puts an unnecessary burden on ambulance crews and hospital emergency departments - who are better utilised in the instance of a P(M)MA batch of pills going around, or other (non-drug) related health risks inherent in large public gatherings.

Sniffer dogs are an expensive propaganda tool when used against the general public, so the more opposition is voiced against their use, the better, in my opinion.

 

[rujex]

I cant comment on the topic itself, but at least in Germany dog handler is one of the most seeked jobs in police - its like a big promotion. Cute dogs to take care of and almost non personal risk or hassle - just let the dog sniff and the colleges have to do the rest. Its a "wet" dream for policeman. And because of that, it will be hard to tell police: the beloved pet - that got them out of regular street duty - is a waste of money...

 

[One Thousand Words]

I am talking about dog operations in Byron. Of course Splendour has dogs. I can remember the first year that had them. Did absolutely nothing. The entire crowd was off chops. Perhaps some of the larger doofs get dogs but i have never seen a dog at a doof/party in NNSW. And i have been to a shitload of them ( but not in the last few years)

Where have you been the last 3-5 years?

Drug buses in and out of most doofs are pretty common around Byron Bay. I haven't heard of dogs inside actual events but I'd imagine that has something to with private properties being the venue. The whole nnsw scene is a fucking shit fight with events either being targeted by police or councils. So much so that it is very much seperate from SEQ crews, with many people up here avoiding crossing the border to their events despite it only being a couple of hours drive away.

Is it surprising considering how much more ingrained the drug culture is around nnsw? Everyone knows if you want to score drugs you head to Byron and its surrounds. Why would the police ignore the obvious?

 

[consumer]

I have not been in Byron for over three years but mates of mine are dj's and put on a lot of the parties. I have only heard about the cops at the big psytrance doofs. Plenty of other parties besides those that dont attract the attention.
Well if the police wanted to shut down Byrons drug trade they could certainly dent it pretty quickly as its a small place and everyone knows the main characters around town, what they sell and how they make their money. But they get left alone.

And scoring drugs in Byron? EVERYONE GOES TO NIMBIN to do that. Walk around Byron or ask locals in the pub. See how you go. You will get nothing if people dont know you. So sorry OTW you are wrong on a number of points there.

 

[hotgirls.jpg.exe]

I always have to laugh at media reports that police found/charged/arrested/whatever it is they do some double digit number of people with drugs at any given festival. Stereosonic would be a good example, 40,000 people attending and they nab 80 with drugs. Maybe one or two of them cop something more than a warning/diversion. How anyone can classify this flagrant waste of money and resources as anything beyond an impotent pantomime is completely beyond me.

Fun fact: I carried drugs on my person every day, for many years and to many festivals and other places (including place of my government employment), and never once got tagged by dogs or otherwise questioned or searched. Being a wholesome-looking babyfaced lady has its benefits but the existence of this kind of profiling angers me greatly, even though I benefit from it.

 

[One Thousand Words]

Jesus consumer you have a serious bug up your arse, chill the fuck out. I actually said nnsw, everywhere from Coffs to the border.

I'm sure there are plenty of parties that go unnoticed but plenty more get shut down or at the very least harassed by police. Pick up a copy of the Coffs Harbour paper any Monday and you'd see nothing but negative press on the scene

It's as easy to score drugs in Byron as it is a hand job from a swede.

 

[consumer]

Yeah i am aware of whats going on around Coffs and Bellengin. I am in a pile of Facebook groups that keep me informed of whats going on. Yea the cops are cracking down on them i agree.
I dont agree its easy to score in Byron though unless your a local in which case its easy or you know a local. Locals are suspicious of outsiders. To many under cover cops. Thats why everyone goes to Nimbin where you will 100% have no problem finding drugs.

 

[Bella Figura]

I wandered around Byron one night as an 18 year old trying to buy some weed and nobody I made eye contact with wanted to engage me, I guess I looked a little distressed and didn't really know what I was doing. Nimbin was a different story.

As for dogs, I've been stopped and sniffed on two occasions with mounds of drugs in my luggage and they've let me pass both times.