Cops to expose Alice "drug house"

[Guest Urbanhog]

Centralian Advocate - N.T., Australia

Edition 1 -FRI 29 NOV 2002, Page 001

 

Cops to expose Alice drug house

By GLENN MORRISON

 

POLICE are poised to declare an Alice Springs home a ``drug house''.

 

That means branding the front of the house with an iridescent green notice.

 

The notice will read: ``Warning -- these premises are drugs premises under the Misuse of Drugs Act.''

 

Homes can be declared after a third notice is served on the occupants by police because they suspect the house is a place where the supply of drugs is taking place.

 

Once a property is declared a drug house, police have power to:

* Raid the premises at any time without a warrant;

* Search anyone on the premises and apply for an order authorising an internal search of the body of the person;

* Force anyone within 200m of the property to give their name and address.

 

Two notices have already been served on the house, the location of which is being kept secret by Alice Springs CIB.

 

Police were last night readying a third notice to slap on the dealers' den.

 

Once the third notice is served an application can be made to start court proceedings to have the house named.

 

The move comes as police begin to act on tough new anti-drug legislation introduced by the NT Government.

 

Five Alice Springs houses have already been served with at least one notice, marking them as targets for possible future declaration.

 

Darwin police superintendent Ken Grant is co-ordinating the effort, which may see houses declared across the NT.

 

Supt Grant said: ``There have been five places given at least first notices in Alice Springs so far.

 

``These are places in which police suspect supply of drugs is taking place.''

 

Police confirmed last night that a third notice on one Alice Springs house had not yet been served.

 

But Supt Grant said: ``It is being prepared, the process has probably been undertaken.

 

``Once it is served we will prepare for an application to have it declared.''

 

SOURCE: Centralian Advocate - N.T., Australia

 

Anyone know about these "drug house" laws?

 

Once a property is declared a drug house, police have power to:

* Raid the premises at any time without a warrant;

* Search anyone on the premises and apply for an order authorising an internal search of the body of the person;

* Force anyone within 200m of the property to give their name and address.

 

 

Urbanhog