By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
CRANBOURNE Police Sergeant Neil Herbert maintains the drug ice is a significant problem in Casey despite leaked government research suggesting its use is declining.
The confidential federal government research indicated the use of ice had declined, according to a report in The Age this week.
But drawing on his own experiences on the front lines, Sgt Herbert said the popularity of ice, a type of crystal methamphetamine, was continuing to rise in the Casey region.
“In terms of statistics there are two schools of thought and I realise that,” he said.
“Some people are saying recently that it’s been blown out of proportion, but anecdotally and also from looking at reporting and working the streets, it is a drug that is becoming more prevalent.
“That’s my experience. I can’t quantify that with statistics. It’s a new drug and it’s a drug that when we do come across it, it has potentially devastating effects on people’s behaviour.”
Sgt Herbert said uniform police were increasingly finding ice to be an influence in a range of different crimes.
“Ice is more prevalent across the board in terms of family violence, street crime, violent offending and also instances that may have first come across as being a mental health incident but it actually relates to the use of ice,” he said.
“People are violent, they can’t control their own behaviours, and it’s extremely addictive …
“I work with mental health representatives as well and they’re suggesting that it is leading to psychosis, early stages of psychosis, so in terms of a drug of choice or use, it’s impact on the community is significant.”
Turning his attention to home-grown terror, following the arrest last month of several Casey teenagers in relation to an alleged Anzac Day plot, Sgt Herbert said the safety of the community and his fellow officers at Cranbourne was paramount.
“For members of the police station it’s business as usual for us, we’ll deal with whatever happens and in terms of emerging threats, they’ll come and go and change,” he said.
Sgt Herbert said the terror allegations were centred on an “extreme minority”, and was not a reflection of Islam.
“We’re aware that terrorism is now emerging in Australia, which hadn’t really been there previously, but in terms of concerns or stress, we look at the world slightly differently but it’s the same job at the end of the day,” Sgt Herbert said.
After roughly 16 years as a cop – the first 12 as a member of the Metropolitan Police Service (MET) in West London – Sgt Herbert has seen many criminal trends.
And with two years under his belt at Cranbourne, he is keen to continue his commitment to efficient policing in Australia.
“The crew here’s exceptional in Casey. It’s busy and I think working in busy areas brings out the best in people,” he said.
“Everyone here works hard, and tries to do the best job they can, which is all you can ask.”
