Qld Police welcome new laws allowing them to push drug offenders to health services

Police have welcomed new laws in Queensland that will allow them to push drug addicts towards health services instead of sending them to court, saying it will give officers more time to focus on organised crime kingpins.

Police say new legislation allowing them to push drug addicts towards health services instead of sending them to court will give officers more time to focus on the Mr Bigs of organised crime.

Users found with small quantities of hard drugs, steroids and even illegal prescription medication will soon be “diverted” instead of charged with a criminal offence, bringing Queensland into line with jurisdictions interstate and internationally.

Detective Inspector Brad Phelps said vulnerable drug users should be helped instead of prosecuted – a sentiment backed by the medical profession.

“Police, generally speaking, have never targeted drug users or addicts,” he said.

“We may come across them in the performance of our duties and take appropriate action, but it’s certainly not something we’ve ever gone out and targeted.”

Inspector Brad Phelps says police have never targeted drug users or addicts. Picture: Matt Taylor

He said the new legislation would expand provisions already available to police when they find people in possession of small amounts of cannabis.

Police will initially be able to warn people found with up to one gram of a hard drug, steroids or unlawful pharmaceuticals and on the second and third occasions can send the user to a drug diversionary program.

“Every jurisdiction in Australia has a drug diversion process and Queensland is now coming in line with those other states and territories,” Det Insp Phelps said.

“This really is about giving frontline police more options in their toolkit to deal with low level drug offending.

“In my mind, it’s a positive issue designed to help those who are really vulnerable, who have an issue with the use of dangerous drugs, and gives police better options to deal with them and divert them from the court system.”

Insp Phelps said police would check to make sure the person had followed through with the diversionary program.

The legislation will likely not come into effect until next year and will be subject to a consultation process.

“As a police service, we are focused on targeting those persons who are supplying, trafficking and producing dangerous drugs,” he said.

Diverting low-level users would not only free up frontline police, it would also assist with court backlogs and even forensic testing.

He said police would now have the option to divert juvenile offenders to the appropriate health service, who might have otherwise been cautioned.

Royal Australian College of General Practitioners chair Dr Bruce Willett said it was a “commonsense approach” to treat drug addiction as a health issue.

“Alcohol and other drug use should be seen through a health lens, and little is gained by throwing the book at people and putting them in the ‘too-hard basket’.

“Ask any alcohol and other drug expert and they will tell you that a health-based approach benefits the person involved and also the entire community. By helping people rather than punishing them we can reduce stigma and drug-related deaths and get more people the help they need to turn their lives around.”