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Politicians told ice may not lead to crime
By Joe Hildebrand
May 17, 2007 02:00am
A NSW Parliamentary report has stunned police by suggesting the deadly methamphetamine ice might not actually cause violence and crime.
This comes despite officers experiencing the problem first-hand every day and a former addict telling the Daily Telegraph he became a standover man to feed his habit.
The Parliamentary Library briefing paper, which was published at the end of last year, is intended to be used by MPs as a source of accurate and impartial information in parliamentary debate and policy development.
"The accuracy of the community's perception of crystal methamphetamine use is debatable," the paper, prepared by researcher Talina Drabsch, says.
"Some underestimate or are completely unaware of the dangers, while others believe that all users become hostile and aggressive when high and that a person is addicted from the moment the drug is sampled ...
"Another concern is the nature of the link between violent behaviour and crystal methamphetamine use, as well as its possible connection to the increase in particular crime rates such as assault and armed robbery.
"However, whether crystal methamphetamine use has a causal role is uncertain, as there are many other factors that contribute to a person's criminal involvement and/or violent behaviour."
Police Commissioner Ken Moroney said he knew from his own officers' experience that ice was fuelling crime.
"When you speak to detectives after an armed robbery and bust and say what happened to all the cash, it's been smoked, snorted or shot up the arm," he said.
Mr Moroney pointed to other research by the National Drug and Research Centre at UNSW that showed almost one third of ice users had been to prison and half had committed a crime in the past month.
News.com.au