NSW Police Commissioner Fuller responds to Coronial findings and recommendations

It is truly tragic for these and many other young lives to have been cut short due to drugs, however any suggestion police were implicit in these deaths will be strongly defended by me.

The NSW Police Force exists to protect the citizens of NSW, and as the Commissioner, I have overall responsibility for how we deliver on that.

Our officers see the adverse effects of all forms of drugs on a daily basis, and our submissions to the inquest relied on a collective experience in relation to drug use and supply.

From a policing perspective, we remain committed to reducing the supply of illicit drugs throughout NSW, including at music festivals.

The community cannot ignore the fact that music festivals create a concentrated market for drug supply and organised criminal groups.

The personal use of illicit drugs is a significant health and social issue, and I have always been in support of harm minimisation strategies, especially education as the first and most important step in this cycle.

Early intervention programs are a key aspect of this education, as it can reduce both the uptake and the age at which people first use drugs.

Drug use and abuse is a whole-of-community issue and we are actively involved in various NSW Government initiatives to identify further opportunities to respond to the loss of life from the consumption of illicit substances.

It was following these discussions that I led the initiative to trial Drug Criminal Infringement Notices (CIN) at music festivals and similar events.

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