P changes threaten bottleneck

By STUART DYE

The country's top judge has added her voice to mounting concerns that the legal system will not be able to cope with a crackdown on P.

Chief Justice Dame Sian Elias has told Justice Minister Phil Goff she is worried that methamphetamine cases will put additional pressure on the High Court's workload.

Her action comes as big delays and spiralling costs are expected to weigh down the courts after the Government's reclassification of the killer drug.

Since May, P has been a class-A drug - meaning longer sentences for manufacturers and dealers. But the reclassification also means cases can be dealt with only in the High Court.

The Chief Justice's warning comes in briefing papers investigating the impact on the court system of the toughening-up.

The Ministry of Justice papers, released by the National Party, reveal the courts could be dealing with an extra 200 cases a year. The increase would need between two and four extra judges and could cost $10 million.

Bizarrely, the papers also show the Department for Courts was not consulted before the Government agreed on the changes to the law. A "malfunction in the Ministry of Health's electronic mail system" was to blame.

"You would have thought the Government would have gone out of its way to find out from the Chief Justice what effect this would have on the country's justice system," said National Party police spokesman Tony Ryall.

Longer delays penalised the innocent and the victims. Justice delayed was justice denied, he said.

"Drug dealers should be prosecuted and in prison as swiftly as possible. If we do not have enough judges then it takes longer and longer to get dealers off the streets and behind bars."

Mr Ryall said the Government needed to put more resources into ensuring the court system did not get bogged down with drug trials.

Though he agreed that making P a class-A drug was "much needed", he said the lack of consultation was inexcusable.

"It's clear from these notes that our system will struggle to keep pace with the demand for more High Court trials involving P."

Mr Ryall also suggested courts make use of recording equipment to speed up trials, "seeing many trials move only as fast as the stenographer's typing".

Justice spokesman Barry Ebert said the ministry had estimated the change could increase the High Court workload by between 5 per cent and 15 per cent - and nine to 30 extra jury trials - based on 2002 figures.

Crown prosecutor Ken Stone said the High Court at Wellington's trial schedule for the early part of this year was fairly light.

But methamphetamine cases could pose a problem in other parts of the country, especially the Far North.

The Department for Courts said it would monitor the effect of the increase and advise the Government of the risks and remedies as they were identified.

P penalties

* Since May, P has been a class-A drug.

* Those importing or making P could face life imprisonment.

* Those convicted of conspiring to commit an offence involving P could face 14 years' prison.

* Those in possession of the drug could be jailed for six months or fined $1000, or both.

Herald Feature: The P epidemic