The number of cannabis, ecstasy and methamphetamine offences has risen sharply in Wyndham.
A Crime Statistics Agency research paper into drug use and possession offences showed that the number of methamphetamine offences in Wyndham jumped from six offences in the 12 months to March 31, 2012, to 141 offences in the year to March 31, 2016.
The number of ecstasy offences doubled from 15 to 30 in the past year alone, while cannabis offences jumped from 129 to 174 in the past 12 months.
The figures are consistent with the rest of the state, according to the agency.
In Victoria, cannabis accounted for almost 40 per cent of all drug use and possession offences recorded in the year to March, 2016, and there were significant increases in the rates of ecstasy, methamphetamine, prescription and other drug offences in the past five years.
Wyndham police’s Acting Inspector Peter Tatter said people dependent on drugs could resort to further crimes such as theft and assaults. “In the vast majority of cases, police proactively detect drug offences rather than relying on offences being reported to us,” he said. “Our approach to addressing this issue centres on disruption to reduce the supply of drugs, target repeat offenders and reduce re-offending through diversion.
“Drug use is a whole-of-community issue and the solution is outside the scope of law enforcement intervention alone.
“There needs to be a consolidated effort across government and the community to tackle the demand for drugs.”
Acting Inspector Tatter said drug use posed safety risks for police.
“Drug use teamed with a lack of sleep and co-occurring health issues may lead to unpredictable and sometimes violent and dangerous behaviour,” he said of the threats faced by police.
