Warren Barry Ayre and Robbin John King both appeared in the dock of Tamworth Local Court this week where they heard evidence collected in September during raids on properties allegedly connected to them still hadn’t been examined.

Magistrate Roger Prowse refused an initial application for an adjournment by the DPP because he said the first brief orders had been made after the arrests and raids five months ago.

“People often criticise courts for inexplicable delays,” he said, adding funding cuts were clearly hurting the frontline services that are needed to process evidence.

“I don’t like coming here every second Wednesday to argue Your Honour’s criticism of the process,” DPP solicitor Mark Ferguson told the court.

“The problem is … it’s a debate that needs to be had at a higher level.”

Mr Ferguson said police had been told some of the items requested were being delayed “due to the FSG workload”.

“A forensic chemist’s report was requested in September and is expected in April,” Mr Ferguson told the court, outlining a timetable of when specialist evidence reports were ordered.

“An expert fingerprint statement requested in September … and anticipated in April.”

Mr Ferguson said “it was a complex evidence gathering exercise” and the crown had been “served an additional ream of material” on the day of court.

“They are serious charges, carrying serious penalties,” he said, adding more time was needed.

King was charged with a fresh count of manufacturing drugs in court and faces a string of other supply and firearms offences.

Ayre is facing charges including attempting to manufacture a large commercial quantity of methamphetamine and supplying drugs including cannabis.

“It seems that the failure is not on police …. it is the services … hindered by the workload,” Mr Prowse told the accused pair.

“Should I make another ineffectual [brief] order?”

Mr Prowse granted an adjournment to April for the remainder of the brief to be served on their solicitors.

The pair were arrested by detectives working as part of Strike Force Burril – an undercover operation to investigate the supply of guns and drugs in the Oxley area.

Several people have been charged by investigators after a series of rolling raids across Werris Creek, Quipolly, Gunnedah, Spring Ridge, Woolongong and Lake Macquarie, where 38 firearms, as well as a drugs were seized, in September, last year.