Labour Lets Meth Hit Next Generation

ACT New Zealand Police Spokesman Dr Muriel Newman today renewed her attack on the Labour Government's soft-on-crime approach to methamphetamines, in the wake of reports that babies are now being born to meth-using mothers.

"Labour's failure to attack the methamphetamine drug problem in a hard and fast manner has resulted in a serious lack of education on the dangers of this drug," Dr Newman said.

"The long delays in re-classifying methamphetamines as a Class-A drug, the Budget decision that police methamphetamine response units will not start for another six months, and answers to my Parliamentary Questions which show that meth has not even been given a specific drug code - and so cannot be reported on as a specific drug crime - means that too many New Zealanders regard methamphetamines as a party drug, and not a dangerous narcotic.

"Not only is this drug putting lives at risk - including babies born to meth-using mothers - but there are growing reports of attacks on police which can be attributed to the drug's use as well.

"I am calling on Police Minister George Hawkins to turn this situation around, and take this issue seriously. He needs to fast track the criminal coding of meth, immediately establish meth drug squads, and issue police with the appropriate protective equipment to ensure their safety. If the Minister fails to take these steps, then he must accept responsibility for the damaged lives and ongoing tragedy that this drug causes," Dr Newman said.

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