METHAMPHETAMINE use is fuelling crime in Wodonga with police reporting ice links in up to 80 per cent of all jobs.
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There are fears the drug will continue to grow in popularity as a high-ranking North East officer revealed the drug had “permeated families”.
Officers recently told the Police Association of Victoria they believed for every 10 incidents, seven or eight were linked to the drug.
Police are increasingly encountering agitated and erratic offenders who are violent towards officers.
Association spokesman Sergeant Wayne Gatt said Wodonga officers had encountered users as young as 13.
“The members indicated that the increase in ice use seen in offenders is something that makes their job tougher than it’s ever been before,” he said.
“People affected by ice are increasingly agitated and violent towards police.
“Offenders police had dealt with on many occasions have presented far differently when affected by ice.
“They’re often more agitated and unpredictable.”
Statistics from the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre show up to 170 people were estimated to have died from the drug in 2013.
Ice use among injecting drug users jumped 52 per cent in the last decade.
Inspector David Ryan said he was unsure if use of the powerful stimulant had peaked.
“There’s a long way to go before we get to the top of it,” he said.
“Ice has permeated families.
“It’s the dangerous nature of the drug that leads to family violence and the psychological harm that makes this particular drug so bad.
“There are many families now who live with drugs as part of their family culture.”
Inspector Ryan said it was not an issue that society could police its way out of.
“We need to do a lot more around treatment,” he said.
“I understand governments are taking steps to address treatment for people impacted by ice.
“It’s not something we have seen with other drugs in terms of its psychological impact on users.
“It’s an increasing problem that we are working on.
“All police members across the North East are continually working towards limiting the supply and limiting the opportunity for traffickers to take hold in any community.
“I think that’s where the real gains are being made by our officers.”
The police union has raised concerned about the impact the drug is having on stretched police resources.
