[Greens-Media] Greens continue sniffer dog campaign at Cockatoo Islandfestival

[Kristian Bolwell]

MEDIA RELEASE
24 March 2005 

Greens continue sniffer dog campaign at Cockatoo Island festival 

In the wake of the Macquarie Fields riots, the Greens will use the Cockatoo Island festival on Sydney Harbour tomorrow to step up their campaign against the excessive and discriminatory use of sniffer dogs against young people by handing out "Sniff Off! stickers to concert-goers.

"The police should be focussing their attention on building trust with young people * and not hassling them." Greens MP Lee Rhiannon said. 

"The more police use sniffer dogs to target young people, the more resentment and antipathy they create.

"Our aim is to make sure young people know their rights, and to alert them to the fact that they are being unfairly targeted.

"What's more, police sniffer dogs are unnecessary and a huge waste of resources. Three-quarters of sniffer dog searches find no drugs. In the few cases where drugs are found, only 10% of cases result in prosecution.

"Even in those cases where prosecution takes place, the dogs are catching people carrying small amounts of drugs for personal use. This does nothing to stop the big manufacturers and dealers," Ms Lee Rhiannon said. 

More information:  Kristian Bolwell, 9230 3551, 0411638320 

Greens members will staff a stall at the Cockatoo Island festival and distribute sniff off stickers and information leaflets about sniffer dog searches.