HORSHAM and Ararat have the highest rate of cannabis offences in the state.
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New figures from the Crime Statistics Agency detail drug use and possession offence in the past decade.
Horsham’s rate of cannabis offences was 392.2 in 2016 and 414.7 in 2015 – the highest in the state in both years.
Ararat had the second highest rate of cannabis offences last year.
Horsham also had the third highest rate of amphetamine offences in the state in 2016.
Horsham acting Inspector Brendan Broadbent said cannabis was a drug that police continually found on offenders.
“In many cases, a lot of the cannabis is found on people passing through on the Western Highway,” he said.
“Highway patrol issue a lot of cannabis cautions – it is an issue with people going between Melbourne and Adelaide.”
Acting Inspector Broadbent said historically there had also been large drug busts from vehicles travelling along the highway, with links to organise crime and bikie gangs.
Horsham had the fifth highest rate of methamphetamine offences in the state.
Ararat had the highest rate of prescription drug offences.
Acting Inspector Broadbent said despite the high rates, the number of cannabis offences in Horsham had decreased in the past year.
He said alcohol continued to be one of the biggest issues in the region.
“There are also issues with all illicit drugs, including methylamphetamine or ice, cannabis, heroin and a number of other popular drugs,” he said. Acting Inspector Broadbent said police were also working to educate young people about the dangers of drugs.
“We have our ‘knowledge is power’ program that we run in schools in partnership with the Wimmera Drug Action Taskforce and other agencies,” he said.
“It’s a way to tackle the problem, not just from an enforcement point of view, but from an educational view.
“We want to give young people a better understanding and heightened awareness of the devastating effects drugs can have on their lives.”
Acting Inspector Broadbent said police act on information they receive from the community about people who might be trafficking or cultivating drugs.
“We act on information as it comes in and we deal with it,” he said.
