Police opinions of a proposal for controlled availability of heroin in Australia

Police attitudes have rarely been studied as part of law- or policy-making, particularly in drug policy. We examined why the majority of a sample of Canberra-based police were opposed to a proposal for a trial of controlled availability of heroin. Many police had negative attitudes towards heroin users with a sense that a trial was ‘giving in’ to them and that funds should be spent on more ‘deserving’ groups. Policing against illegal drugs was not seen to be effective and there was strong support for harsher laws and penalties against users and suppliers. While police attributed a high percentage of property and other crime to the use of heroin, they did not believe that a trial would reduce these crimes. Nevertheless a number of constructive suggestions about policing a trial were made, including a role for police in setting up a trial, selecting participants and monitoring outcomes and a role for police in ensuring the security of trial drugs, staff and participants. These results are discussed in light of international police experience with more liberal illicit drug policy, including controlled provision of heroin.