'P' Epidemic Alive And Kicking

ACT New Zealand Deputy Leader and Police Spokesman Dr Muriel Newman today disputed speculation that, due to lower numbers of clan labs being busted by police, New Zealand's methamphetamine crisis may have peaked.

"Police sources have informed me that this is not actually the case. In reality, Labour is no longer funding the investigation of methamphetamine manufacturing operations - fewer labs found does not mean there are fewer labs in operation," Dr Newman said.

"In fact, rather than relying on pro-active investigation and intelligence work, police can only bust clan labs when they stumble upon them in the course of their other duties - such as attending callouts for incidents like domestic violence.

"There is more methamphetamine in New Zealand now than ever before. In an unprecedented move, gangs are now putting aside their differences and colluding in this lucrative drug industry.

"The official line appears to be that the `P' epidemic has `peaked'. This is nothing but Government smoke and mirror tactics: lack of police investigation equals fewer labs found, equals less evidence of methamphetamine manufacture, equals less of a problem.

"But, were Labour to provide police with funding for drug investigation, we would see police able to pro-actively hunt down `P' manufacturers. This would see more labs discovered, more gangs busted, and more New Zealanders safe from this dangerous scourge.

"Methamphetamine drugs are a cause of widespread concern: every parent worries about the danger to their children of meth addiction, and the danger to their safety from the crime-sprees of P-crazed addicts trying to fund their habit.

"This Government's attempt to cover up the true extent of this problem is despicable. Labour should come clean by giving police the mandate and funding to eradicate this epidemic, as they were able to do with the `Mr Asia' heroin problem of the 1970s and 1980s," Dr Newman said.

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