NCJ Number
128441
Journal
Current Issues in Criminal Justice Issue: 2 Dated: (March 1990) Pages: 9-24
Date Published
1990
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This paper argues that the proliferation of additional investigative agencies for drug law enforcement in Australia is unwarranted; what is needed are additional resources and investigative authority for traditional policing bodies.
Abstract
The discussion focuses on intelligence tensions within New South Wales occasioned by the operations of various intelligence-gathering agencies. The National Crime Authority (NCA) was established to collect and analyze criminal information and intelligence relating to relevant criminal activities and disseminate that information and intelligence to law enforcement agencies and other appropriate persons. Most law enforcement bodies view the NCA as failing to provide them with true intelligence. The State Drug Crime Commission (SDCC) was established in New South Wales in 1985. It has the responsibility of cooperating and consulting with other law enforcement agencies in collecting and sharing intelligence information. Although the SDCC has a better reputation than the NCA among law enforcement bodies, there has never been a complete exchange of intelligence information between the SDCC and the New South Wales Police. These additional investigative bodies have not enhanced the effectiveness of the New South Wales Police, and they have diverted personnel and funding from traditional policing bodies. A more effective approach is to base specialized investigative units within traditional policing bodies and provide them with the personnel and funding required to achieve their goals. 29 footnotes