By KATH GANNAWAY AND JESSE GRAHAM
THE Mail’s day-to-day contact with police on the beat in the Yarra Valley backs up concerns that ice is not an urban problem, and it’s not an urban myth either.
Police such as Kevin Largue at Yarra Junction openly state: “Ice is an increasing problem and it’s in every part of society, not just down in the suburbs,” he said.
They see it in the family violence call-outs and say they know it’s a factor because they’re told it is by the people they’re dealing with in those situations.
“People who would not have had a tendency (to do drugs) are cropping up. We are seeing people who are cleanskins, never been in trouble before, doing very serious assaults.”
It’s a revelation to most of the community who picture drug users as young people, losers and people generally on the thin edge of society.
“We’re seeing otherwise stable people – married, a job, young children, a mortage – the whole deal and both are addicted to ice and falling apart at the seams.”
Yarra Glen Police Sergeant and acting Healesville Sergeant Richard Coulson said that ice was a trending issue in the area, and police were still finding appropriate ways of dealing with the problem.
“We’re trying to adopt strategies and ways to deal with situations as they come to hand,” he said.
Other police tell the same story and there’s a level of concern not only about the growing burden of ice crime on their work, but on what it means for the people whose lives are affected, as users, colleagues, family … friends.
Ask them why the general public is not aware of what’s happening and they will tell you the stereotypical portrait of users as skinny 18-year-olds with sores all over their face is not typical; it happens and it’s tragic, but after years of use.
They talk of tradesmen in their late thirties and forties, uni students, and professionals; people in all socio-economic groups.
Then there are the ones who turn to ice as a way of getting out of their own financial problems, some funding their own use, but often just because they can make big money from a commodity that is increasing in demand and is highly addictive.
Sgt Coulson said that Healesville had more ice-related incidents compared to Yarra Glen, but said it was an issue for the whole of the state, not just the leafy towns in the outer east.
He said that drug users had variations in their behaviour, which makes tackling the problem more difficult for officers, who may not know how people will react to situations.
And the figures they talk about are staggering.
Drug offences recorded in the Yarra Ranges dropped 7.1 per cent between 2012 and 2013, with 374 offences falling to 364 in the respective years.
However, assault charges – including family violence assaults – rose 11.2 per cent over the same time period.
For a problem that police say is behind a lot of offending, including family violence, police say they need people to stand up and help them.
If you know, or suspect, people of using, making or selling methamphetamines – ice – don’t leave it to someone else, call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
If someone is behaving irrationally or violently and police are needed, call triple zero immediately.
