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Drug Policy and Research
1. NATIONAL DRUG LAW ENFORCEMENT RESEARCH FUND (NDLERF)
The NDLERF is a funding program that promotes quality evidence-based practice in drug law enforcement aimed at preventing and reducing the harmful effects of licit and illicit drugs in Australian society. The NDLERF was established by the Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy and was formed by the combination of the former National Community Based Approach to Drug Law Enforcement and the National Drug Crime Prevention Fund. The NDLERF is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing as part of its commitment to the National Drug Strategy.
Specifically the NDLERF aims to:
- facilitate the research, evaluation and review of drug law enforcement as it relates to licit and illicit drug markets;
- assess the impact that the policies and practices of the law enforcement sector and other stakeholders have on each other and on law enforcement and drug harm reduction outcomes; and
- enhance the role of law enforcement personnel in the research, development, piloting and evaluation of innovative licit and illicit drug law enforcement practices.
The Fund is managed by a Board of Management with representatives of police agencies from all States and Territories, the AFP, the Australian Customs Service, the Australian Government Attorney-General's Department, the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing and another representative from the health sector.
Further information and application kits for NDLERF funding schemes are available online at:
http://www.ndlerf.gov.au
2. COMMISSIONERS' DRUGS COMMITTEE
In recognition of the key role that police play in Australia’s response to drug problems, as well as the high levels of social, economic and health harms associated with licit and illicit drugs in the community, the May 1999 Police Commissioners’ Conference established the Commissioners’ Drugs Committee (CDC, formerly the Police Commissioners’ Conference Drug Policy Subcommittee) to focus on drug issues.
The CDC provides a mechanism for the Commissioners to more strategically address illicit drug issues, by:
- providing advice to the Commissioners' Conference;
- representing the views of Commissioners in the national drugs arena; and
- encouraging the funding of research in areas that are of priority for drug law enforcement.
The members of the CDC are Commissioner Hyde (South Australia, Chair), Commissioner Keelty (Australian Federal Police), Commissioner McCreadie (Tasmania), Chief Commissioner Nixon (Victoria) and Commissioner White (Northern Territory). Assistant Commissioner Mark Payne (Northern Territory Police) is an observer on the CDC in his capacity as Chair of the NDLERF Board of Management.
The development of effective strategies to respond to licit and illicit drug problems in Australia depends on coordinated responses from the law enforcement, health, education and correctional sectors. This initiative of the Police Commissioners’ Conference serves to enhance this coordination and ensures that police are strategically placed to play a central role in the development of approaches to drug problems in Australia.
The ACPR prepared the following discussion papers that are widely circulated throughout the Australasian law enforcement environment.
Young people, alcohol and other drugs: The role of police in providing school-based drug education
Alcohol and other drug problems among Indigenous Ausralians from rural and remote regions - A policing perspective
Identifying and responding to problematic licensed premises - A guide for police
The current amphetamine sitution in Australasia - implications for policing
On-site ecstasy pill testing - a consideration of the issues from a policing perspective
The health and social impacts of cannabis use
Reducing drug-related crime: The role of Arrest Referral Schemes (ARS) and Custodial Nursing Models (CNM) in Australasia
Alcohol and other drug issues facing policing in Australia
The role of alcohol in family violence
Testing drivers for drugs other than alcohol at the kerbside - current issues
The apprehension and custodial care of offenders affected by the use of amphetamine type stimulants
The policing implications of volatile substance misuse
The antecedents of alcohol related violence in and around licensed premises
The use of amphetamine type stimulants by offenders involved in high speed pursuits
The impact of general law enforcement on the illicit drug market
Enhancing the links between drug misuse prevention programs and crime prevention programs
The diversion of pharmaceutical drugs onto the illicit market
The feasibility and implications of compulsory DNA testing of drug offenders
The impact of the national focus on harm minimisation on the uptake of illicit drugs in Australia
The role of mass media campaigns in preventing the uptake of illicit drug use in Australia
The relationship between illicit drug use and crime
The role of police in supporting illicit drug related public health outcomes
Education and training for police on the broad range of drug issues
The Australasian Centre for Policing Research is now closed.
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