WA Police Minister Michelle Roberts has warned against complacency as new figures showed Perth’s meth use had fallen to its lowest ever level.
Results of wastewater testing released today by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, shows meth use is 60 per cent lower than it was at its peak in October 2016.
The report also reveals meth use in regional WA has fallen by 11 per cent.
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READ NOWIt is the first time Perth has been below the national average for meth consumption, and lower than the capital cities of Adelaide, Melbourne and Darwin.
The ACIC study compares samples of wastewater from 47 locations around Australia.
Since taking office, the McGowan Government has made a significant investment in the WA Police Force to tackle the ice scourge. More than $100 million has been committed to WA’s Meth Border Force, which includes 100 additional police officers and 20 additional specialist and support staff. New equipment has also been delivered to boost police efforts to intercept more of the drug. In the past 12 months the Meth Border Force has:
– Seized more than 1.56 tonnes of crystal meth; – Charged 185 offenders – Frozen nearly $30 million in assets including bank accounts, real estate and vehicles.
The McGowan Government has also introduced some of the toughest penalties in the country for dealers and traffickers, by increasing the maximum penalty to life imprisonment.
“These latest results show meth use in Perth has dropped significantly since its peak in 2016,” Ms Roberts said.
“They are promising, but we all know there is still much work to do and we cannot rest while this scourge continues to afflict our community.
“We came to government with a comprehensive Meth Action Plan to tackle the crisis which developed under the former government.
“Our significant investment in the WA Police Force has boosted efforts to intercept and disrupt supply of meth around the State.
“I’d also like to congratulate Commissioner Dawson and his officers for the success they’ve had in preventing millions of doses of meth from hitting the streets.”