Victoria’s new crime fighters in lab coats are now at work analysing ice to help Victoria Police track down clandestine drug labs more quickly, close them down and bring dealers to justice.
The Andrews Labor Government’s landmark Ice Action Plan secured $4.5 million to enable the Victoria Police Forensic Services Department to hire eight extra staff, which will increase its ability to fight ice crime.
Two of the additional forensic officers have already been hired and put to work, and the recruitment of the rest is well under way.
The Labor Government’s boost to capacity, allowing for an unprecedented crack down on labs, is needed now more than ever.
Last year, police detected 152 clan labs in Victoria – up from 142 in 2013 and 100 in 2012. Eighty-seven clan labs have been found so far this year.
The extra funding will also support forensics officers to
- Introduce chemical profiling to better analyse ice samples
- Introduce new scientific testing to analyse patterns of drug use, production and distribution
- Develop a better database to increase police understanding of the illicit drug market in Victoria
The expansion comes as the Premier’s Ice Action Taskforce, made up of key government ministers, Victoria Police and health and legal experts, resumes its work today.
The Government’s Ice Action Plan – released in March this year – secured a $45.5 million effort to reduce the supply, demand and harm of a drug that is ruining lives.
Quotes attributable to Premier Daniel Andrews
“We will fight ice on all fronts. These forensics officers will help our police bring the peddlers of this drug to justice.”
“Action is needed now more than ever. We’re working hard to support families, treat users and crack down on ice.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Police Wade Noonan
“Modern crime fighters wear lab coats as well as uniforms. They will allow us to shut down labs, catch ice kingpins and prevent this drug from ruining lives.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020