Police step up meth campaign
In an effort to protect people from the dangers methamphetamines pose, Rockingham detectives are on the beat to combat its supply and use in the region.
According to Organised Crime Squad Detective Senior Sergeant Philip Bonner, police have located five ice laboratories this year on top of the 11 found in the region in 2014.
Rockingham Detective Senior Sergeant Steve Crowley said drug-related offences for the past year stood at 591, up almost 30 per cent on the 456 offences from the previous year.
He said he believed the increase in recorded offences was a result of increased intelligence from residents who had a greater awareness of the effects of drugs on family and friends.
"It's common for us to investigate violence where amphetamines are involved," Det. Sen. Sgt Crowley said.
"It makes a person more aggressive and reckless, which, disappointedly, is directed towards family members."
He said the region's officers would regularly encounter ice users who were aggressive, erratic and unaware of the consequences of their actions.
"Family members and other victims are unable to process what just occurred as the actions are out of the ordinary for that person," Det. Sen. Sgt Crowley said. "Users are often involved in burglaries, stealing and robbery offences to support their habit."
He viewed his role on the war against ice as more than just the criminal aspect, but to improve the health and lives of individuals and Rockingham because drug laboratories posed a "significant threat to the community".
"Equipment and chemicals are highly volatile and have the potential to explode and injure the public," he said.
Det. Sen. Sgt Bonner said most improvised drug manufacture sites were makeshift set-ups built from everyday household items.
"They are not designed to handle chemical reactions and present a real danger to those using them, and those who are exposed to them.
"It's important to remember that those people involved in the manufacture of drugs are not trained chemists. They don't appreciate the danger of what they are doing, nor do they understand the equipment and chemicals they are using are dangerous even when sitting idle.
"All information received is assessed and many drug-related arrests have been the direct result of calls to Crime Stoppers."
He urged anyone who detected strange smells, usually ammonia, suspicious activity or large amounts of surveillance equipment to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
