Sniffer dogs ineffective, say Greens
From: AAP
January 25, 2006
THE Greens have accused the New South Wales Government of sitting on a report they believe shows that sniffer dogs are ineffective at catching drug dealers.
Greens MP Lee Rhiannon today said the State Government should release the Ombudsman's report on the controversial use of sniffer dogs, which she suspected were not catching big-time dealers but instead netting young people with small amounts of recreational drugs.
Her call for the report to be made public comes on the eve of the Big Day Out music festival in Sydney, where police sniffer dogs are expected to target young revellers carrying ecstasy.
"If the Ombudsman's report was released it could well reveal that Big Day Out-style sniffer dog operations are a waste of public money because they are not catching major drug traffickers and dealers," Ms Rhiannon said in a statement.
"Four years after the Government passed tougher sniffer dog powers, we are still waiting for the release of the Ombudsman's review of their performance.
"The Greens call on the Government to stop sitting on the Ombudsman's report and admit that sniffer dogs are unnecessary and a huge waste of resources."
The Greens will distribute "Sniff Off" stickers at the Big Day Out tomorrow, designed to protest against the use of sniffer dogs.
"Sniffer dog operations by the police treat young people like criminals and create resentment towards the police," Ms Rhiannon said.