In response to four drug-related deaths resulting from overdoses in January this year, Operation Safenight, conducted by Victoria Police saw an increase in the number of police patrols and sniffer dogs in the party districts of Prahran, Fitzroy and St Kilda.
Uniformed police, with the support of specialist resources including Passive Alert Detector (PAD) dogs, Highway Patrol, Liquor Licensing Unit, Regional Crime Team and local detectives, have been deployed over the past four months as part of Operation Safenight.
The bolstered effort by police aims to crack down on the misuse of narcotics and on anti-social behaviour in an attempt to improve public safety in the nightlife scene.
Under the operation, police have the power to stop and search people on the street, in lines or in vehicles. Undercover officers also patrol venue bathrooms and pose as buyers of narcotics. The operation has also increased the number of drug and alcohol tests of motorists using Highway Patrol, as well as the use of booze and drug buses.
Prior to the operation’s commencement, Superintendent Philip Green told Fairfax, “If there are clubs out there doing the wrong thing, if there are clubs out there who are remaining blind to or encouraging drug use then they will be prosecuted with every tool available to Victoria Police.”
Superintendent Green also said “Our focus is on safety and harm prevention. We’re not here to arrest our way out of community problems”.
Log in or sign up to view
See posts, photos and more on Facebook.
Police estimate the main party precincts of Melbourne ‘play host’ to over 100,000 patrons every weekend.
Launched back in April, on the first weekend of Operation Safenight police arrested 20 people for drug offences. Sixteen of these people were referred to drug diversion programs. The 16 were not dealing drugs and were more likely small-time users in possession of small quantities of drugs.
On the weekend ending 30 July, three people were arrested for drug-related offences; two were referred to a drug diversion program and the third was cautioned for possession of cannabis.
Drugs seized during the operation included cannabis, MDMA, cocaine, ketamine and amphetamine.
In early July, the police conducted Operation Safenight in Prahran, 24 hours after two people were shot by police in a King Street nightclub. Campaigners have raised concerns regarding police conduct and whether the operation is a viable deterrent for drug use.
The High Alert campaign was started in response to police proposals to conduct nightclub raids under Operation Safenight. Started independently by Nevena Spirovska with Emma Buckley Lennox and Sophie Stafford, the campaign aims to reduce harm by providing party-goers with legal information, support, referrals and information about rights and responsibilities when interacting with police.
Whether the operation achieved the desired increase in safety and decrease in drug-related issues is up for question.
A spokesperson from High Alert says “the exorbitant amount of police resources did not justify the outcomes of the four-month operation. Nor did it have any measurable impact on drug use in nightclubs.”
A poster resource released by High Alert. Source: highalert.com.au
The operation was set to end in August. High Alert have spoken to patrons and owners regarding their attitude towards Operation Safenight.
“Speaking to the patrons when we were campaigning in Prahran and St Kilda, we were told time and time again that they felt the operation was an unnecessary intrusion on the nightlife scene.”
“The owners were always respectful of the police operation but felt that this wasn’t the right way to be approaching the problems and harms associated with drugs.”
High Alert maintains that public searches using sniffer dogs is an invasion of civil liberties and the right to privacy.
“Consultation with peak alcohol and drug bodies would’ve ensured that the operation was working in line with existing harm reduction strategies, and involvement of nightclub owners would’ve meant that their actual concerns could’ve been responded to”, says a spokesperson for High Alert.
High Alert suggests “an investment in drug checking at night clubs and festivals and the cessation of the passive alert detective program (sniffer dogs)” as ways to minimise harm associated with drug and alcohol use.
High Alert has launched a petition with the Legislative Council calling for a halt to the use of drug detection dogs in the State of Victoria. They say up to 80% of indications made by drug detection dogs lead to no drugs being found and the use of them is “vastly ineffective”.
In its latest media release on Operation Safenight, Victoria Police says the operation will continue to run regularly on Saturday nights utilising specialist resources including the Dog Squad, Taskforce Razon, Transit Safety Division and Highway Patrol.
