AMPHETAMINE use in the New England North West has skyrocketed dramatically in the past two years, with new figures revealing police have seen a 79 per cent jump in arrests for possession and use of the illegal strand of drugs.
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The figures were revealed in the latest crime snapshot by the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) yesterday, and paint a picture of the rising problem of drug use across regional areas in the two years to December 2014.
According to BOCSAR director Dr Don Weatherburn, the New England North West’s amphetamine-drug problem is getting worse.
“To put it in perspective, back in 2005, there were 40 offences involving the use and possession of amphetamines. Now it’s up to 165, so that is not helping your crime problem,” Dr Don Weatherburn told The Leader.
“The problem started a long time ago. In the last 10 years ... the number of people arrested has been going up by 18 per cent per annum. In the last two years, it’s gone up 79 per cent.”
Local police are targeting the drug trade locally with lengthy secretive police operations, culminating in charges in recent months in both the New England and Oxley Commands.
Strike Force Codes, set up in May 2014 in Gunnedah, has seen four people arrested for ice supply.
Strike Force Mewburn, established in Tamworth in July last year, has led to more than 10 drug arrests.
And Strike Force Ansae in Armidale has resulted in charges laid against two people for the commercial supply of amphetamines.
According to BOCSAR, the local arrest-rate jump is well above the state amphetamine-dealing rate increase, and more than double the state increase for amphetamine possession in the 24 months to December 2014.
“The continued growth in arrests for amphetamine-related offences is a matter of concern,” Dr Weatherburn said.
“The rise in arrests for amphetamine use and dealing is consistent with drug survey data in suggesting a rise in methamphetamine consumption.”
The state’s top cop maintains those arrest numbers mean police are targeting the drug trade, no matter what pocket of the state.
“That means the NSW Police Force have arrested those people ... they’ve been arrested because of operations,” Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said in Sydney yesterday.
“They’re out there proactively chasing down those who have these drugs, particularly focusing on those supplying.”
And fuelling the fire is the scourge of ice, which has become one of the main targets for police.
“There is far too much ice out in circulation,” he said.
“We’re seeing record amounts of that drug in the community.
“You take ice, it keeps you going for five days ... we are bracing for the impact of crime.”
Commissioner Scipione said that, unless there was help from other areas outside law enforcement, “we are going to face some every significant problems”.
