Why am I not surprised…

The use of sniffer dogs has become a common sight at festivals, shows and virtually any fun event around the country. They’ve become the main form of battling drug use on the part of police, yet, we’ve grown up with stories of how their accuracy and reliability is in fact next to zero. Now, a recent report has provided undeniable evidence as to the above, along with the straight up ridiculous amount Aussie taxpayers are shelling out as a result.

Obtained by NSW Greens MP, Cate Faehrmann, the findings have revealed that taxpayers have spent over $46 million on sniffer dogs over the past decade. During this period, police have received more than 50 complaints regarding their use, with annual operating costs for these units increasing from $3.5 million to nearly $5 million. Astonishingly, however, almost 75% of the searches conducted over this time (approx 70,000) did not result in the discovery of illicit drugs. The stats speak for themselves, yet NSW police continue to assert that the dogs are highly effective.

Now for a more human/less statistical perspective: Most people who have attended a festival know someone or have been subject to their own experience with a sniffer dog. Standard protocol dictates that a dog needs to sit down and provide a clear indication when it detects the presence of drugs. However, in recent years, police have settled for dogs merely sniffing around or looking in the general vicinity of individuals.

This approach has led to increased anxiety around sniffer dogs, even among those who do not possess drugs, which includes virtually everyone. Plus, it’s led to numerous punters opting to ingest all of their drugs, if they have them, in the event that they see a canine unit, which has led to overdose and even death more times than you can count.

 

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A post shared by Cate Faehrmann (@greencate)

Despite these concerns, NSW police seem determined to maintain the status quo,  which is especially alarming since they have to allocate at least six to ten officers to accompany each dog and handler at a music festival. So, it’s literally not in theirs (or the economy as a whole) best interests for sniffer dogs to be used so extensively. However, until there is a shift in the conversation surrounding drugs and harm reduction, it’s likely that sniffer dogs will remain a common sight at events throughout this festival season. So, look after yourselves and your mates this summer, and here’s hoping things change sooner rather than later.