COUNCIL DESERVES CREDIT FOR CRIME-FIGHTING TACTICS

Four strands sounds a lot better than four pillars.

Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts unveiled an ambitious crime fighting plan on
Monday, along with Attorney General Wally Oppal.

The plan has four "strands," which makes a comparison with Vancouver's
four pillars plan to reduce drug problems inevitable.

Surrey's plan seems to have a better chance of actually working. The
mayor has been working towards this plan for years, beginning when she
chaired the police committee as a councillor.

The four strands are: prevent and deter crime; apprehend and prosecute
offenders; rehabilitate and reintegrate; and reality and perception of
crime.

Oppal backs the plan, saying it is important that Surrey deals with
"the root causes of crime." Conservative MP Russ Hiebert said the
federal government is also behind the plan. NDP MP Penny Priddy also
backs it.

It's a very good start to have both senior governments behind the
plan. The plan's success hinges on cross-jurisdictional and
co-ordinated work.

Its introduction comes at a time when there is an apparent meeting of
minds between the provincial Liberal government and federal
Conservative government on a number of crime-related and justice issues.

Oppal is a former Supreme Court judge who was well-known for his
outspokenness before leaving the bench to enter political life. He
wants to get tougher on some crimes, while keeping the correct balance
between rehabilitation and punishment for those convicted.

Meanwhile, the federal government was elected on a "get tough on
crime" platform. While it has not yet been able to deliver on many of
its pledges, its enthusiasm for tougher sanctions is unabated.

Among the initiatives planned for Surrey are a community court system.
This would allow people with addictions to get some help, rather than
just come to court to be sentenced. For the moment, Crown counsel will
get information about treatment available, homeless shelters and other
services. The point is that someone charged with a crime needs to
receive help in dealing with their destructive behaviour.

"Sobering centres" for those drunk or high are also planned. This is
far better than leaving it totally up to police to deal with such
individuals by arresting them, and lodging them, in jail.

Prolific Offender Management Teams will be set up. These will involve
people from a variety of agencies monitoring the progress of prolific
offenders through the justice system. to ensure that they don't just
get out and reoffend.

The mayor also said there will be closed-circuit television cameras
set up in public hot spots. Imagine if such a system had been in place
when two Indo-Canadian seniors were beaten to death at Bear Creek Park
- -- a crime that shocked many people in this city.

There will be complaints from civil liberties advocates. Their
complaints are groundless -- if you aren't doing anything wrong, no
one will pay the slightest attention to what is seen on the cameras.

The city also plans to introduce bonus density incentives so that
developers will be more interested in building social housing. This
makes a great deal of sense. Developers will provide such units if
there is a financial case for doing so, and it's far better than
waiting for senior government to free up funds. By the time such funds
are spread across the country or the province, Surrey would get very
little.

The city also plans to hire a significant number of police officers.
This is badly needed, as nothing beats a quick police response to a
call from a member of the public.

There is tremendous public backing for this plan. Surrey has too many
senseless crimes -- many of which are related to the drug trade.

There are far too many grow-ops, chop shops and meth labs in this
city. Part of this is due to changing land uses -- developers or
speculators buy a home that will eventually be torn down to make way
for condos or small lots, and rent it to anyone who shows up with a
wad of cash.

This plan will provide help to those who need it, while getting in the
faces of those who think laws apply to other people. The sooner that
all elements of it are in place, the better.

The mayor and council deserve credit for working hard on this issue,
which is one of great significance to law-abiding, hard-working Surrey
taxpayers.