Your Safety This Mardi Gras Season

Fri, 04/03/2011 - 12:52pm — admin

ACON Rovers

Party rights and safety

The Inner City Legal Centre provides free information sessions on your rights, drugs, police powers and sniffer dogs. These are held on:

Thursday 24 February 2011 at 6-8pm at the Columbian on Oxford and Crown Sts, Darlinghurst
Tuesday 1 March 2011 at 6-8pm at Twenty10, 45 Bedford St Newtown.

PLAN AHEAD. Get lots of rest and eat well before hitting the town. If you are attending several events give yourself time to recover in between.
EXPECT TO SEE POLICE. Police and drug dogs may be present at any event over the Mardi Gras season. Weigh up the risks if you are thinking about using illegal drugs. Learn your rights by visiting www.mardigras.org.au/projectblue.
IF YOU PLAN TO USE DRUGS you can reduce health and legal risks by only carrying the amount of the drugs that you intend to use yourself.
IF YOU ARE CARRYING DRUGS AND SEE POLICE - STAY CALM. If you decide to take all your drugs at once so you don’t get busted you may overdose or become ill. It is safer to dispose of your drugs than risk an overdose.
LOOK AFTER YOURSELF AND YOUR MATES. Let someone know what drugs you’ve taken. If someone becomes unwell at an event alert a Rover or Medical or venue staff immediately.
STAY HYDRATED. Drink 500mls every hour if you are dancing or feeling warm. Drink 250ml every hour if you are just hanging out.
PLANNING TO USE G? There are different types of G, and some types can take a lot longer to come on. Allow plenty of time before having another dose.
USING G. If you are using G it is not safe to use other depressant drugs (‘downers’) like alcohol or sleeping pills. Combining depressant drugs greatly increases the risk of overdose.
PLAN TO GET HOME SAFELY. Make sure you have money for a taxi. Let your friends know where you are going if you are leaving with someone you just met.
IN AN EMERGENCY. If someone becomes unwell at a private party before or after the event, call an ambulance on 000. Calling an ambulance does not mean that the police will come.

Your legal rights this Mardi Gras season

Possessing or supplying drugs is illegal.
Police can use sniffer dogs to detect drugs at pubs, entertainment events and on public transport.
If a sniffer dog smells drugs on you, they will sit next to you or indicate you. This means the police may search you.
Keep calm during the search. If you are arrested, you don’t have to say anything and you can ask for a lawyer.
You can make a complaint about the police after they have searched you – get some legal advice about your options.