The state’s top cop says it’s time to start diverting first and small-time meth users away from West Australian courts and into education programs.

The policy change would see those caught with small amounts of methamphetamine escape criminal charges.

WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson. Credit:James Brickwood

In an interview with Nine News Perth, WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson said the current strategies in the war on drugs were not working and it was easier to buy meth on Perth streets now than 10 years ago.

“Chalking up a criminal conviction for a user has not been proven to be demonstrable,” Mr Dawson said.