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Sniffer dogs: Greens NSW renew push to end their use in stop and search Sniffer dogs: Greens NSW renew push to end their use in stop and search
(7 months later)
The Greens New South Wales are renewing their push to end the police use of drug detection dogs in public places – a program they say is not only ineffective but harmful.The Greens New South Wales are renewing their push to end the police use of drug detection dogs in public places – a program they say is not only ineffective but harmful.
Jenny Leong, the member for Newtown, has reintroduced an amendment bill to the NSW state parliament that aims to repeal the parts of the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002 that allow the use of drug detection dogs without warrants on public transport, at festivals and in bars.Jenny Leong, the member for Newtown, has reintroduced an amendment bill to the NSW state parliament that aims to repeal the parts of the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002 that allow the use of drug detection dogs without warrants on public transport, at festivals and in bars.
Leong first introduced the private member’s bill to the legislative assembly in May 2015 but it lapsed in November before it could be debated. She reintroduced it on Tuesday, the first sitting day of NSW parliament.Leong first introduced the private member’s bill to the legislative assembly in May 2015 but it lapsed in November before it could be debated. She reintroduced it on Tuesday, the first sitting day of NSW parliament.
The bill is part of the Greens NSW’s ongoing Sniff Off campaign against the police use of drug dogs, which the party says targets young and marginalised people.The bill is part of the Greens NSW’s ongoing Sniff Off campaign against the police use of drug dogs, which the party says targets young and marginalised people.
Related: NSW police reject calls for sniffer dogs to be banned over false results
The campaign’s Facebook page routinely updates its close to 9,000 followers to the presences of drug dogs in public transport hubs, mostly in the Sydney area.The campaign’s Facebook page routinely updates its close to 9,000 followers to the presences of drug dogs in public transport hubs, mostly in the Sydney area.
According to statistics quoted by the Greens in January last year, passengers at Redfern station were 6.5 times more likely to be searched after a sniffer dog indication than those at Central station.According to statistics quoted by the Greens in January last year, passengers at Redfern station were 6.5 times more likely to be searched after a sniffer dog indication than those at Central station.
Of 17,747 searches carried out after an indication from a dog, 11,331 found no drugs.Of 17,747 searches carried out after an indication from a dog, 11,331 found no drugs.
Leong said the program was not only in breach of civil liberties but ineffective, with thousands of people “humiliated” every year by intrusive personal searches resulting from sniffer dogs’ false positive readings.Leong said the program was not only in breach of civil liberties but ineffective, with thousands of people “humiliated” every year by intrusive personal searches resulting from sniffer dogs’ false positive readings.
She told Guardian Australia that the use of drug dogs encouraged people to think of the police as a “force” rather than “a service to help them when they’re in trouble”.She told Guardian Australia that the use of drug dogs encouraged people to think of the police as a “force” rather than “a service to help them when they’re in trouble”.
Leong said the program had also been proven by independent assessors to be ineffective. “If in two-thirds of cases, the police dogs are getting it wrong, why is it that the government is continuing with this program? … We have to start asking whether it’s just an attempt to intimidate people, because it’s not effective in targeting big-time drug dealers.”Leong said the program had also been proven by independent assessors to be ineffective. “If in two-thirds of cases, the police dogs are getting it wrong, why is it that the government is continuing with this program? … We have to start asking whether it’s just an attempt to intimidate people, because it’s not effective in targeting big-time drug dealers.”
Given their failure rate, the use of sniffer dogs was merely a “political propaganda tool” for the NSW government to communicate that it was “being tough on drugs” when approaching the issue from a health perspective would be more effective, she said.Given their failure rate, the use of sniffer dogs was merely a “political propaganda tool” for the NSW government to communicate that it was “being tough on drugs” when approaching the issue from a health perspective would be more effective, she said.
The fact is that drug dogs are a PR exercise for the Baird government’s failing war on drugsThe fact is that drug dogs are a PR exercise for the Baird government’s failing war on drugs
“We don’t reduce that harm by having a whole lot of police dogs standing in line at a music festival.”“We don’t reduce that harm by having a whole lot of police dogs standing in line at a music festival.”
Leong said she hoped the bill would be debated as soon as next week.Leong said she hoped the bill would be debated as soon as next week.
Though she said individual MPs had expressed support for repealing the relevant parts of the act, neither the Labor opposition nor the Liberal party had opposed the program. “We can’t be playing politics with it.”Though she said individual MPs had expressed support for repealing the relevant parts of the act, neither the Labor opposition nor the Liberal party had opposed the program. “We can’t be playing politics with it.”
David Shoebridge, an MP and the Greens’ justice spokesman, said the police use of drug dogs should be “immediately scrapped” by the state premier, Mike Baird.David Shoebridge, an MP and the Greens’ justice spokesman, said the police use of drug dogs should be “immediately scrapped” by the state premier, Mike Baird.
“The fact is that drug dogs are a PR exercise for the Baird government’s failing war on drugs,” he said.“The fact is that drug dogs are a PR exercise for the Baird government’s failing war on drugs,” he said.
“It’s remarkable that neither Premier Baird or [police commissioner Andrew] Scipione have understood this basic fact, that serious drug dealers don’t carry their goods on the NSW train network where the drug dogs primarily operate.”“It’s remarkable that neither Premier Baird or [police commissioner Andrew] Scipione have understood this basic fact, that serious drug dealers don’t carry their goods on the NSW train network where the drug dogs primarily operate.”
Related: If we want to stop drug-related deaths at festivals, we need a new strategy | Bill O'Loughlin
The NSW ombudsman recommended the immediate end of the program in a report in 2006, saying that, despite police officers’ best efforts, it had proven to be “an ineffective tool for detecting drug dealers”.The NSW ombudsman recommended the immediate end of the program in a report in 2006, saying that, despite police officers’ best efforts, it had proven to be “an ineffective tool for detecting drug dealers”.
“Overwhelmingly, the use of drug detection dogs has led to public searches of individuals in which no drugs were found, or to the detection of (mostly young) adults in possession of very small amounts of cannabis for personal use.”“Overwhelmingly, the use of drug detection dogs has led to public searches of individuals in which no drugs were found, or to the detection of (mostly young) adults in possession of very small amounts of cannabis for personal use.”
Two people have died at music festivals – James Munro at Defcon.1 in western Sydney in 2013, and Gemma Thoms at the 2009 Big Day Out in Perth – after panicking in the presence of drug dogs and consuming all the drugs they were carrying.Two people have died at music festivals – James Munro at Defcon.1 in western Sydney in 2013, and Gemma Thoms at the 2009 Big Day Out in Perth – after panicking in the presence of drug dogs and consuming all the drugs they were carrying.