Clan Labs Flashcards
Three types of labs
- Extraction
Finished drug or precursor is removed from raw material by use of chemical solvents e.g. morphine from opium, hash oil from cannabis leaf and pseudoephedrine from pharmaceutical preparations. - Conversion
One form of a drug is changed into a more desirable form e.g. cocaine hydrochloride to ‘Crack’ and methamphetamine hydrochloride to ‘Ice’. - Synthesis
Raw materials are combined through chemical processes to produce the desired drug e.g. methamphetamine or ‘P’ from pseudoephedrine and heroin from morphine.
Clan Lab Indicators
Outside
- Chemical odours from the building, rubbish, or detached buildings. Can be sweet, bitter, ammonia, or solvent
- Exhaust fans running at odd times
- Frequent visitors at odd hours
- Windows blackened out or curtains always drawn
- People coming outside only to smoke
- Occupants unfriendly, appear secretive about their activities, exhibit paranoid or odd behaviour
- Expensive security and surveillance gear
- Access denied to landlords, neighbours, other visitors
- Rubbis containing a large amount of cold medication containers or packaging
- Bottles, plastic containers and boxes with labels removed
Inside
- Laboratory glassware, equipment and documents
- Constainers with clear liquids in them with a chalky coloured solid on the bottom or similar
- Containers with two layered liquids in them, one dark coloured layer and one clear or pale yellow layer
- Used coffee filters containing either a white pasty or reddish brown substance
- Baking dishes or similar containing white crystalline substance
- The presence of hot plates near chemicals
Risks
Chemical Hazards (inhaled, abosrbed, or ingested)
- acids
- bases
- solvents
- poison gas
- organic peroxides
- poisons
- radioactive substances
- corrosives
- any contaminated materials, contaminated waste, waste chemicals, contaminated debris, contaminated equipment / apparatus etc. seized at a Clan Lab
May also provide a danger of fire and explosion
- explosive gas
- flammable gas
- compressed gas
- flammable liquids
- flammable solids
- spontaneously combistible substances
- dangers on exposure to water or air
Physical Hazards
- armed and/or drug-affected suspects
- explosives
- potential booby traps
- risk of electric shock
- unsafe building structures (including confined spaces and fire damaged buildings)
- slip/trip/fall hazards
- heat stress
- cold stress
Unplanned Entry
- immediately remove persons of interest from the premises
- isolate the site and maintain a safety permiter
- preserve the crime scene
- notify duty Inspector or Duty NCO, contact the NCLRT and where appropriate the local fire service and ambulance
- seek advice from a NCLRT member or the Fire Service about decontamination procedures
- occupants of address and staff who entered address to remain separated until decontamination issues have been addressed
- seek medical advice if any adverse effects
Safety considerations
- Leave the area immediately, your safety is paramount
- Never touch, taste or smell any chemicals or equipment
- Do not attempt to stop the chemical reaction, or trn any electrical devices such as lights or fans on or off. The simple act of turning on an electrical switch may cause an explosion
- Do not shut off the water supply to the house or the chemical reaction
- Do not smoke in or near a Clan Lab
- Do not use tools, radios, cell phones, torches or devices that produce sparks or friction
- Do not re-enter the premises
Exposure to chemicals
- headaches
- watery or burning eyes
- nausea
- burning skin
- coughing or choking
- pain in diaphram
- feeling of coldness or weakness
- shortness of breath and/or dizziness
- decrease in cognitive function, vertigo and convulsions
Planned Entry
Manner of entry will depend on factors as:
- Whether it is an active or inactive laboratory
- The number and nature of offenders or others present in the laboratory
- The laboratory location
- Proximity to persons or property
- Type / size of laboratory
- Firearms / weapons / booby traps
Safety equipment
Initial Entry Team - Minimum level of PPE
- Flame retardant overalls
- Chemical & Flame resistant coveralls
- Boots
- Fire resistant gloves
- Balaclava
- Police SRBA vests
- APR’s with Air filters
Children in Clan Labs
Immediate Action at the Scene
O/C Investigation will co-ordinate:
- Removal of child or YP from the immediate scene
- Assianing an officer to look after and monitor the child or YP. This officer will make themselves known to the Social Worker when they arrive
- Provision of age appropriate explanations to the child or YP about what is going to happen to them
- Assessment of the child or YP by ambulance staff for injury, illness or respiratory distress
- Request for OT attendance at the scene
- Distribution of suitable PPE to OT staff, together with ‘Decontamination Kit for CYP’ for each child or YP
- Placing of the child or YP in a Tyvek suit or having them wrapped in a blanket. Must occur before handover to OT staff
- Most appropriate decontamination for the child or YP
- Photographing of the child or YP at the scene
- Recording of the physical condition of the child or YP including any injuries
- Recording of the mental state of the child or YP
- Consider securing the clothing worn by the child or YP as an exhibit
- Prelim with child or YP (to include basic health questions, occupant’s details, other siblings or children/YP, sleeping arrangements, playing and eating areas, school or pre-school, GP, knowledge of drugs)
- Informing OT of the power/authority used to remove and detain the child or YP before placing them in the care of OT
- Furnish the Social Worker with a copy of teh s39 warrant or a copy of the s42 placement form
- Briefing Social Worker of any relevant information from prelim
- Briefing Social Worker of any health concerns resulting from medical assessment
Follow-up (O/C Investigation)
- With OT, give priority to locating any child or YP absent from address
- Ensure any child or YP exposed to a clan lab is checked by Doctor ASAP, within 24 hours
- Ensure the child or YP’s medical exam has been completed and evidential hair or urine samples taken
- Refer all cases where consent is in issue, due to custodial status or age of child or YP, to legal section ASAP
- Ensure that hair samples and/or toxicology kits are collected from Doctor and forwarded with Pol143 to ESR
- Toxicology results forwarded to both OT and doctor
- Liaise with CPT as to whether a Specialist Child Interview is required
If Social Worker determines not appropriate to seek medical exam, Police can apply under s49 and 50 of OT Act for court order to have medical exam
Emergency powers
Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996, S103
Powers of entry for inspection relating to new organisms
(1)
Any enforcement officer may, at any reasonable time,—
(a)
go on, into, under, and over any premises (excluding dwellings); or
(b)
with the consent of the occupier, go on, into, under, and over a dwelling—
for the purpose of inspection to—
(c)
monitor compliance with the conditions or controls on any new organism in any premises where a new organism approved under this Act is located; or
(d)
determine the nature of any organism in the premises; or
(e)
determine whether or not any person is complying with a compliance order.
(2)
For the purposes of subsection (1), an enforcement officer may—
(a)
take samples of water, air, soil, any substance, or any organism; and
(b)
open containers or packages (including secured or sealed containers or packages) to inspect the contents; and
(c)
take photographs and measurements and make sketches and recordings; and
(d)
take or remove any thing for analysis or testing; and
(e)
conduct examinations, tests, inquiries, demonstrations, and inspections; and
(ea)
require that any place or thing specified by the enforcement officer is not disturbed for a reasonable time pending any examination, test, inquiry, demonstration, or inspection; and
(eb)
require the making of statements by the person in charge of the premises, in any form or manner specified by the enforcement officer, about conditions, material, or equipment relevant to the purpose of the inspection; and
(f)
require the production of any documents relevant to the purpose of the inspection; and
(g)
take copies of the documents or information or extracts from those documents or information.
(3)
Where any enforcement officer has taken any thing in accordance with subsection (2)(d), the enforcement officer shall give the occupier of the premises written notice of the things that have been taken, the reason for taking the things, and where the things will be kept.
(4)
Within 5 working days of removing the thing the enforcement officer shall give the person in charge of the premises written notice stating—
(a)
whether or not the thing will be returned or destroyed; and
(b)
either—
(i)
the time and date of the return of the thing to the premises; or
(ii)
the results of the analysis of the thing and why it is being destroyed.
(5)
Every enforcement officer exercising any of the powers conferred under this section shall, at the time of exercising that power, and thereafter on request, produce—
(a)
evidence of that person’s appointment as an enforcement officer; and
(b)
evidence of that person’s identity.
(6)
An enforcement officer may take any person with relevant experience or expertise on to the premises to assist the officer with the inspection.
(7)
Nothing in this section shall limit or affect the privilege against self-incrimination.
Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996, S135
Interpretation
In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires,—
emergency means—
(a)
actual or imminent danger to human health or safety; or
(b)
a danger to the environment or chattels so significant that immediate action is required to remove the danger—
arising from a hazardous substance or new organism
enforcement officer includes any constable, and any employee, volunteer, or contractor of Fire and Emergency New Zealand exercising powers under the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Act 2017.
Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996, S136
Declaration of emergency
(1)
Where any enforcement officer has reasonable grounds to believe that—
(a)
there is an emergency; and
(b)
either,—
(i)
no state of emergency has been declared under the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002; or
(ii)
the emergency is not being dealt with under the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Act 2017; or
(iii)
no emergency has been declared under section 144 of the Biosecurity Act 1993; or
(iv)
no other enforcement officer has declared an emergency under this Act; and
(c)
all or any of the powers set out in section 137 should be exercised in order to—
(i)
enter any premises or dwelling; or
(ii)
remove the cause of the emergency; or
(iii)
stabilise the situation to limit the actual or likely adverse effects of the emergency; or
(iv)
protect the health and safety of people, chattels, or the environment from the actual or likely adverse effects of any emergency,—
the enforcement officer may declare a hazardous substance or new organisms emergency.
(2)
A hazardous substance or new organisms emergency shall be declared by the enforcement officer by—
(a)
identifying himself or herself to any persons in the vicinity; and
(b)
stating his or her authority to exercise emergency powers; and
(c)
announcing the nature of the emergency and the area likely to be affected.
(3)
Every enforcement officer shall notify—
(a)
the person who appointed him or her as an enforcement officer, if he or she was appointed under section 98; and
(b)
the Authority—
of every occasion on which a hazardous substances or new organisms emergency is declared by that officer under this section.
(4)
Any emergency declared under this section shall cease—
(a)
48 hours after the time of declaration; or
(b)
when a state of emergency is declared under the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002; or
(c)
when the emergency is treated by Fire and Emergency New Zealand as an emergency under the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Act 2017; or
(d)
when an emergency is declared under section 144 of the Biosecurity Act 1993,—
whichever is the sooner.
(5)
Where the conditions which caused the emergency to be declared under subsection (1) still exist 48 hours after the time of declaration of the emergency and the emergency has not been treated as an emergency under any of the provisions in paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) of subsection (4), 1 further declaration of emergency may be made under this Act and the provisions of subsection (4) shall apply accordingly.
(6)
Any emergency declared under this section shall have effect over the area specified under subsection (2)(c).
Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996, S137
Emergency powers
(1)
When a hazardous substance or new organisms emergency has been declared under section 136, any enforcement officer may—
(a)
enter any premises or any dwelling at any time without complying with the provisions of section 103, 103A, or 119:
(b)
exercise any of the powers set out in section 103 or 103A:
(c)
exercise any of the powers set out in section 119(5):
(d)
direct any person to stop any activity which may contribute to the emergency:
(e)
request any person, either verbally or in writing, to take any action to prevent or limit the extent of the emergency:
(f)
direct any person to leave any place in the vicinity of the emergency:
(g)
direct any person to refrain from entering the vicinity of the emergency:
(h)
requisition any property for use in the emergency:
(i)
destroy any property or any other thing in order to prevent or limit the extent of the emergency:
(j)
secure the site for up to 24 hours following the decision of the enforcement officer that the immediate danger is past.
(2)
If an enforcement officer enters any private property pursuant to the powers conferred by subsection (1), he or she shall advise the occupier of the property as soon as practicable.
