Police grilled over drug testing
A Parliamentary committee has questioned why WA Police carries out fewer than half the roadside drug tests as South Australia given WA’s reputation as “the meth capital of the world”.
Assistant commissioner Nick Anticich told the community development and justice standing committee WA Police had an annual target of about 10,000 drug tests in the metropolitan area and about 9000 in regional WA.
Mr Anticich agreed with chairwoman Margaret Quirk that South Australia historically carried out 40,000 tests.
“Why, especially when we are supposed to be the meth capital of the world, why are we not testing at a greater level,” she asked.
Mr Anticich said the current levels were “just a realistic, aspirational target for us” and predicted numbers would soon rise in response to improved testing technology.
Ms Quirk: “Are you embarrassed that this is another area that we are behind South Australia (in). Are you embarrassed at the level of drug driving testing? It seems extremely low to me.”
Mr Anticich: “No madam chair, I’m not embarrassed. I think it’s the case that we are developing the capability and we will over time see (that rise), but certainly not embarrassed.”
