Following the tragic death of 17-year-old festival-goer Gemma Thoms at the Perth Big Day Out early in February, WA authorities have announced a new initiative to tackle illicit drugs at music events thatll make its first appearance this weekend.
The trial will see a drug disposal bin placed near the entrance to the Rock-It festival in Joondalup. Punters worried about being searched and arrested for drug possession will be able to dispose of any illicit material in the bin without fear of further action.
The bin will be placed near the main entrance to the festival and patrons will be encouraged to use it without the threat of prosecution by police, said WA Police Commissioner Karl OCallaghan of the novel approach. However, if you choose to pass the bin without discarding whatever you might be carrying, you may find yourself arrested and charged. Anyone caught with drugs after passing the drug disposal bin will be subjected to prosecution to the full extent of the law, the commissioner continued.
Its thought that this is the first time drug disposal bins have been used in Australia, and it comes after they featured at music festivals in England and the United States, with mixed results. The English trial seems to have been quite successful, said WA Police Sergeant Greg Lambert. But in the United States it has proved otherwise.
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