Lawyer accuses cops of giving young people ‘dangerous’ advice on drug charges
A Sydney lawyer has accused police of providing “dangerous and incorrect” information to festival goers charged with drug offences.
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A criminal defence lawyer in Sydney has warned young people against listening to police who tell them to sign the back of their court attendance notice issued for drug offences at festivals.
The warning comes after 73 people were charged with drug possession and another four for supply of a prohibited drug at Knockout Outdoor festival at Sydney Olympic Park and Listen Out at Centennial Park over the weekend.
There were 18 people taken to hospital with suspected overdoses.
Jahan Kalantar, a partner at the firm Executive Legal, took to TikTok to tell young people it was “dangerous and incorrect” for police to tell them to “just fill in the form on the back” of a court attendance notice.
Speaking generally about the problem, he claimed he had heard cases of police promising people they wouldn’t get in trouble if it was their first time being caught with drugs and they just filled in the form.
Speaking to news.com.au, Mr Kalantar further emphasised why that advice would be a problem.
“The potential consequences of this comment are so immense that if they are targeted on a vulnerable person we as a society should be worried,” he said.
He explained that the form is a written notice of pleading where alleged offenders can admit guilt and write an explanation.
“You can write out a paragraph, you can put some information in there but it’s far less than you would do if you were to take the matter to court,” he said.
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Mr Kalantar encouraged young people to take advantage of free initial consultations offered by many legal firms.
He said the law should be followed but by creating awareness about the legal support available, he hopes that when young people are in danger they won’t avoid seeking help due to potential legal ramifications.
“There is no legal consequence that is as substantial as losing one’s life,” he said.
Mr Kalantar said he was representing several people with drug related offences from music festivals.
As for why police could be giving the advice he has condemned, Mr Kalantar said “at best it’s misconceived … at worst it’s deceptive”.
“I lean towards it’s probably a misplaced sense of helping them out and taking some of the sting out of what’s occurring,” he said.
“It’s certainly not the role of police and it’s inappropriate.”
He said police should say nothing or tell people to get independent legal advice.
NSW Police said issuing a written notice of pleading alongside a court attendance notice was routine, however police generally do not advise or suggest how a person should plead, do not recommend the services of any particular legal representatives and do not predict a court’s determination to an offender.
It said it would not comment on unsubstantiated claims.
There were about 44,000 people at the Knockout festival and 21,000 at Listen Out.
The four people charged with supply of a prohibited drug were aged between 19 and 24.
Speaking after the Knockout festival, NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith said police were generally pleased with the crowd’s behaviour but there were still some who put their health and the wellbeing of others at serious risk.
“Illicit drugs are breaking down the fabric of society. Dealers simply see drug users as a commodity market, and care little for the consequences that go with drug use,” he said.
“Police will continue to conduct high-visibility operations to target the use, possession and supply of illicit substances – along with anti-social behaviour and alcohol-fuelled violence – particularly as large-scale events continue to return in the summer months.”
Originally published as Lawyer accuses cops of giving young people ‘dangerous’ advice on drug charges
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