Ice arrests skyrocket on the northern beaches

THE  number of people charged with possession or use of the drug ice on the northern beaches has increased­ by nearly 80 per cent over the past two years.

THE number of people charged with the possession or use of the drug ice on the northern beaches has increased by nearly 80 per cent over the past two years – well above the average increase across NSW of 38 per cent.

Local police say there are two elements to the increase in arrests for ice – a definite social trend towards use of the drug and their increased capacity to target the mid-level supply of drugs such as ice as a result of the merger of the two former local police commands into one.

Between 2007 and 2013, local arrests for possession or use of ice averaged 38 a year but in the 12 months to June this year, the number skyrocketed to 79.

The only part of Sydney to see a greater increase in ice arrests was Baulkham Hills and the Hawkesbury, where the increase was nearly 150 per cent.

The overall increase in Sydney over the past two years was nearly 39 per cent, matching the state-wide increase of 38 per cent.

Although area-specific data for the possession or use of other drugs will not be released until today, figures released by the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research show arrests across the state for the possession or use of cocaine have risen by more than 47 per cent, narcotics by more than 10 per cent and cannabis by more than 7 per cent.

Northern Beaches local area commander Supt Dave Darcy said “Our capacity to take on the drug trade is stronger than it’s ever been but there’s also been a shift of people toward ice that has been quite strong,” he said.

“Early indications are that our arrests for cannabis have declined and been replaced by arrests for ice.

“The other place we’re seeing this movement towards ice is our attendance at local hospitals to deal with violent people who are affected by ice.”

Supt Darcy said parents and schools needed to educate young people about ice and one of the best education tools was the before-and-after photos of ice users that can be seen online.

Northern Beaches crime manager Insp Craig Wonders said the merger of the two commands and the formation of a 14-strong strike team dedicated to targeting the mid-level supply of drugs was paying dividends.

“The strike team will continue to focus on identifying suppliers operating on the northern beaches,” he said.