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Services hostage to effects of drug

Emma ClaytonMelville Gazette

Along with his partner, Sgt Worthington was responding to a call that a woman who was inside the house with her toddler was being held hostage.

A man under the influence of amphetamines had broken into the house and was holding the woman at knifepoint, and the man was not listening to instructions.

"He had crazy eyes," Sgt Worthington said. "I was aiming my weapon at him, telling him to put the knife down but he wasn't responding to verbal commands.

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"He thought his daughter was in the house and was insane with rage."

The innocent family were targeted randomly by the man who had been at a party and, according to Sgt Worthington, was agitated and irrational after a long drug binge.

Following a tense stand-off, the man threw the knife between himself and the police officers, giving the victim a chance to break free and the man was eventually subdued, arrested and charged with a string of offences.

Sgt Worthington admits this was the worse personal experience he has had with a drug user in his 20 years as a police officer, but he has encountered many families torn apart by methamphetamine.

"We are there to enforce the law but we are not just dealing with a crime issue, this is a health issue," he said.

He said people using methamphetamine often had reduced cognitive ability, could display extra strength and had a high pain tolerance.

"Our first port of call is always to communicate and if this is impaired, it makes the situation more difficult."

He said the result was that police often had to employ more services, including paramedics, mental health services and government departments, to resolve the case.

"The saddest part is that someone's drug use has a massive effect on their family, employment, finances and their whole life."