Judge says girls prostituting for P

A senior judge has warned that young girls are prostituting themselves for methamphetamine, and that young people are being targeted with 'free samples' of this 'highly addictive drug'.

A copy of a letter recently released under the Official Information Act from Judge John Walker to Mr Jim Anderton, head of the Ministerial Committee on Drug Policy, highlights the desperate need to stop drug-dealing gangs pushing P onto young New Zealanders,says National's Police spokesman Tony Ryall

"All Judge Walker got in response to his concerns was a letter from a tired Jim Anderton saying he had referred the Judge's letter to his staff. No wonder New Zealand is losing the war on this drug," says Mr Ryall.

"The Government must toughen the Proceeds of Crime Act so that we can stop gangs by confiscating their money and assets. This is the most effective action the Government could take.

"Make no mistake, P is big business," says Mr Ryall.

"Judge Walker told Government Ministers that '...in the Youth Court in Christchurch it became apparent that young girls of Youth Court age [under 18] are being engaged in prostitution in Christchurch and there seemed to be some connection between that activity and the supply of methamphetamine to them'.

"Judge Walker also warns that 'young persons...[are] being targeted with the drug with the 'free sample' approach to marketing which will create methamphetamine addicts amongst the young'.

"He goes on to say that an increase in burglary and violent offending by the young is a result of these addictions.

"The best way to end the destruction of young lives by P is to stop drug-dealing gangs in their tracks. We've told the Government for four years to crack down on the gangs and their money, but Labour isn't listening," says Mr Ryall.

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