malakaix
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2008
- Messages
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Police to unleash sniffer dogs on Northbridge
* Chris Thomson
* August 28, 2008 - 7:32AM
WA Police are bringing sniffer dogs into Northbridge in the latest move to tackle drugs in the popular entertainment district.
Under the new plan, police will patrol nightclub queues with dogs trained to sniff out patrons who try to smuggle drugs into venues.
"The dogs are used elsewhere and we certainly want to be in that space," Police Specialist Unit inspector Craig Donaldson said.
"We consider the use of a dog just another technique once reasonable suspicion has been established by an officer.
"It could be a viable option."
Inspector Donaldson said the police Dog Squad did not yet have canines trained to conduct drug sniffs appropriately in the general community.
"We have been researching worldwide different breeds of dog for that," he said.
"We don't have passive sniffing dogs, which means when (the current dogs) react they scratch."
Used mainly in police pursuits, the current sniffer dogs are generally Alsatians, also known as German Shepherds.
Beagles, such as those employed by Customs officials at Perth airport, or Labradors are generally used for passive sniff duties.
The working committee of the Perth Liquor Accord last week supported the use of sniffer dogs and handlers to search lines outside nightspots.
The committee concluded the dogs would be especially beneficial between midnight and 5am on Friday and Saturday nights.
"There was definitely a consensus by members of the working committee that antisocial behaviour in late night areas wasn't just an alcohol issue," committee chair Doug White, also an employee of the Australian Hotels Association, said.
"The dogs have been used in Queensland and NSW with varying levels of success.
"It wouldn't be the attack dogs - I don't think anybody's going to appreciate Alsatians walking up and down the streets when they're trying to have a beer."
Mr White said his committee would not support sniffer dogs going into venues.
"The dogs could help where somebody is on ice in particular, and it is very hard to detect if they are on those kinds of substances and when they go off the deep end they do so with such force it is quite frightening."
Executive Director of the WA Network of Alcohol and Other Drug Agencies urged caution.
"There are concerns in terms of the rights of individuals," Jill Rundle said of the proposed sniffer dogs.
"If such a proposal were to go ahead, it should be used as a diversionary measure where people are referred to education and/or treatment services."
http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/police-to-unleash-sniffer-dogs-on-northbridge-20080827-43es.html
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Its pretty funny that at the bottom of this article, they have a video of 'drunk' people and the cops having to deal with them. 8)
* Chris Thomson
* August 28, 2008 - 7:32AM
WA Police are bringing sniffer dogs into Northbridge in the latest move to tackle drugs in the popular entertainment district.
Under the new plan, police will patrol nightclub queues with dogs trained to sniff out patrons who try to smuggle drugs into venues.
"The dogs are used elsewhere and we certainly want to be in that space," Police Specialist Unit inspector Craig Donaldson said.
"We consider the use of a dog just another technique once reasonable suspicion has been established by an officer.
"It could be a viable option."
Inspector Donaldson said the police Dog Squad did not yet have canines trained to conduct drug sniffs appropriately in the general community.
"We have been researching worldwide different breeds of dog for that," he said.
"We don't have passive sniffing dogs, which means when (the current dogs) react they scratch."
Used mainly in police pursuits, the current sniffer dogs are generally Alsatians, also known as German Shepherds.
Beagles, such as those employed by Customs officials at Perth airport, or Labradors are generally used for passive sniff duties.
The working committee of the Perth Liquor Accord last week supported the use of sniffer dogs and handlers to search lines outside nightspots.
The committee concluded the dogs would be especially beneficial between midnight and 5am on Friday and Saturday nights.
"There was definitely a consensus by members of the working committee that antisocial behaviour in late night areas wasn't just an alcohol issue," committee chair Doug White, also an employee of the Australian Hotels Association, said.
"The dogs have been used in Queensland and NSW with varying levels of success.
"It wouldn't be the attack dogs - I don't think anybody's going to appreciate Alsatians walking up and down the streets when they're trying to have a beer."
Mr White said his committee would not support sniffer dogs going into venues.
"The dogs could help where somebody is on ice in particular, and it is very hard to detect if they are on those kinds of substances and when they go off the deep end they do so with such force it is quite frightening."
Executive Director of the WA Network of Alcohol and Other Drug Agencies urged caution.
"There are concerns in terms of the rights of individuals," Jill Rundle said of the proposed sniffer dogs.
"If such a proposal were to go ahead, it should be used as a diversionary measure where people are referred to education and/or treatment services."
http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/police-to-unleash-sniffer-dogs-on-northbridge-20080827-43es.html
---------
Its pretty funny that at the bottom of this article, they have a video of 'drunk' people and the cops having to deal with them. 8)
