Newman Demands Answers
ACT New Zealand Police Spokesman Dr Muriel Newman today demanded to know what Police Minister George Hawkins was doing
to combat New Zealand's looming methamphetamine crisis.
"Reports that methamphetamine use is not only causing an escalation of violence against police, but is now causing
violent problems for hospital workers, are an indictment on the Government's ability to crack down on crime," Dr Newman
said.
"It is a disturbing trend that the use of this drug by patients, and friends, is causing precious health dollars to be
spent on security guards and self defence training for staff.
"Police have repeatedly warned that methamphetamine use is escalating. The number of laboratories being established to
make the drug is soaring, fuelling a rapid growth in organised crime.
"Unless the minister treats this problem seriously, directing and resourcing police to crack down on the manufacture
and distribution of methamphetamine, he will effectively be sanctioning a drug problem that will have more serious
consequences than anything New Zealand has ever seen," Dr Newman said.