POLICING COSTS LIKELY TO SOAR

The Chatham-Kent Police Service could well beat its 2000 record, but it's
news members aren't particularly pleased about.

As of July 31, 1,840 prisoners were housed within the soon-to-close
Chatham-Kent jail. Only 2,934 prisoners were recorded in 2000.

Deputy Chief Jack Chambers, reporting to the Police Services Board at an
Aug. 15 meeting held in Wallaceburg, says the numbers could be indicative
of a number of factors including an increased emphasis on drug crackdowns.
For instance, $2.9-million worth of marijuana was seized in 2000 whereas
$5-million worth of marijuana has already been confiscated this year.

Police Chief John Kopinak says the figures are especially disconcerting
considering the Municipality of Chatham-Kent will soon be without its own
correctional facility. This change means police service members will be
spending a lot more time on the road while transporting prisoners to and
from London or Windsor.

Worse yet, says Kopinak, statistics indicate the number of Young Offenders
sentenced to closed custody are on the rise, meaning members will wrack up
even more expenses while travelling to Goderich's correctional facility for
young offenders.

The board has forwarded the statistics to Chatham-Kent council with the
hope the Municipality will continue to seek alternatives to the jail
closure slated for April.