Police boss disputes need for drug squad

THE Gold Coast’s police boss is arguing against suggestions the Glitter Strip needs a dedicated drug squad.

Chief Superintendent Mark Wheeler said the district had over 1000 officers, a Major and Organised Crime Squad and 116 Criminal Investigation Branch detectives tackling drug offences.

It comes after the Bulletin revealed there were calls for the dedicated squad to be based in the city, amid a 17 per cent increase in drug offences.

“A lot of effort and a lot of planning goes into conducting drug operations already,” Supt Wheeler said when asked whether it was needed.

“Having a designated or dedicated squad tends to set up silos.

“My preference is that our police across the Gold Coast are all engaged in this war on drugs.

“To say that we need a dedicated squad, I’m not seeing any evidence of that.”

Supt Wheeler said the spike in drug offences was an indication of “effort and proactive work” by officers and detectives.

Leading criminologists and police insiders say the Gold Coast must get its own drug squad similar to other regional tourist cities like Cairns and Townsville.

Bond University criminologist Dr Terry Goldsworthy told The Bulletin: “The Gold Coast desperately needs its own dedicated drug squad, the fact that Queensland’s secondlargest city does not have one is unacceptable.

“The data clearly supports the creation of a drug squad on the Gold Coast. Since 2017 we have seen a 17 per cent increase in drug offences on the Coast.

“This compares to Cairns with a 10 per cent increase and Townsville with a nine per cent increase. Both of these cities have dedicated drug squads. “

Labor and the LNP are yet to commit to specific drug squad funding but law and order looms as a vote winner in the October State election.