Law Enforcement and Illicit Drug Control

• NCJ Number: 179196
• Author(s): Adam Graycar; Diana Nelson; Mick Palmer
• Date Published: 1999
• Length: 6 pages
• Corporate Author: Australian Institute of Criminology
• Sale Source: Australian Institute of Criminology
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: Australia
• Note: Australian Institute of Criminology Trends and Issues, No.110, April 1999

Annotation

This paper presents a basic catalog of law enforcement responses to illicit drug use throughout the world and discusses how these various law enforcement strategies have fared in Australia.

Abstract

Globally, efforts to reduce the supply of illegal drugs by cutting off the supply before it reaches the country of destination, as well as by targeting high-level drug traffickers, apparently has had little impact on the availability of drugs; however, some recent Australian initiatives to reduce the supply of drugs by focusing on the high-level drug traffickers have had success. Joint investigations by the Australian Federal Police and Customs during the past 3 years have led to the break up of major international drug trafficking syndicates involved in the importation of large quantities of heroin, cocaine, and cannabis resin. Six Australian Federal Police mobile strike force teams have been established to target major drug syndicates operating in Australia. Along with continued efforts to reduce the supply of drugs getting into the community, targeting street-level drug markets is an important strategy in addressing drug-related problems within the community. Police crackdowns seek to increase dramatically the perceived and/or actual threat of apprehension for specific types of offenses, so as to have a general deterrent effect. Such crackdowns may include undercover policing and drug sweeps. The community policing approach seeks to enlist the support of community residents in passing on information about drug dealing in neighborhoods along with other concerns. Other law enforcement strategies that can counter drug dealing are problem-oriented policing, the policing of drug hot spots, police use of coercive tactics to influence "place managers" to make their buildings less amenable to drug activity, the use of civil remedies and third-party policing, the use of civil forfeiture law, and diversionary law enforcement strategies. The latter include cautioning, mandatory treatment services, and drug courts. 13 references