Ministers back ESR plan to cut P-lab court delays

By LOUISA CLEAVE

Government ministers are backing plans to help scientists clear a backlog of methamphetamine cases by reducing the amount of evidence they are required to provide in court.

Institute of Environmental Science and Research chief executive Dr John Hay met ministers Pete Hodgson and Phil Goff and police officials on Monday to discuss delays of up to 18 months in processing evidence from alleged P labs.

The Government-owned testing agency has eight scientists trained to dismantle and take samples from P manufacturing labs, and each case takes up to a month's work.

Police found about 180 labs last year and in the year to June the number is expected to reach 300. ESR has a backlog of 170 cases under investigation.

Dr Hay proposed reducing the amount of information required in court cases, video-conferencing for scientists required to give evidence to cut the time they spend at court, and putting more effort into recruiting investigators from overseas.

A spokesman for Mr Hodgson said ministers had given the go-ahead to "try all these things", but there was no simple solution to the problem.

"We need to see how far we can get with the sorts of measures they are talking about," the spokesman said.

Dr Hay said the meeting was "extremely positive".

Herald Feature: The P epidemic