DRUG ISSUE EXAMINED

Evaluation The Result Of Grade 8 Incident

A disturbing incident of alleged drug possession, including cocaine,
by three Grade 8 students in Tilbury last month has Chatham-Kent
police examining what can be learned.

Mayor Randy Hope, a member of the Chatham-Kent Police Services Board,
brought up the issue at Wednesday's meeting.

"I think it's appropriate to have a discussion at this level," he
said after the meeting. "It was shocking to hear the drug issue is
moving down to a lower (age) level."

He asked the police service to look at the issue and "self-evaluate"
how drug abuse among youths is being tackled.

Chief Carl Herder said police officers are in schools on an almost
daily basis, offering education and drug-awareness programs.

He said it is clear that those experimenting with drugs are getting younger.

"That's an issue that is constantly being reviewed," he said.

He noted local drug education starts in Grade 4.

Board chairman Uly Bondy, a retired principal, said drug use in
schools isn't new.

He recalled his grown daughter telling him, when she was in Grade 6,
that someone in her class was selling marijuana.

Fighting drugs isn't just a police issue, Bondy said.

Herder agreed, noting "the police can't do it on their own."

Incidents of drug offences by those under 18 were down in 2007,
according to the youth unit's annual report, released Wednesday.
There were 63 drug incidents in 2007 compared to 87 the year before.
Threatening offences increased in 2007 to 80 incidents from 29 in 2006.

Deputy Chief Dennis Poole said the dramatic increase is due to cyber bullying.

"That accounts for a significant amount of the difference," he said.
Public awareness about cyber bullying has led to more reporting, he added.

Fraud cases were up, with seven incidents in 2007 compared to none
the year before. Most of the incidents involved low-quality
counterfeit cash, Poole said.

The deputy chief said total calls for service involving youth
increased to 796 in 2007 from 783 in 2006.

Out of Chatham-Kent's approximately 12,500 youths, Poole said only
about four per cent had dealings with the law.

"As in the past, a small number of those in conflict with the law are
responsible for a large percentage of the crimes in the Chatham-Kent
community," he said.

He noted 48 young people were responsible for 23.5 per cent of all
youth-related incidents.

Youth crime stats have changed since the enactment of the Youth
Criminal Justice Act, which requires police to divert young people
from the criminal justice system whenever possible.

"These youth have been steered to our community partners to provide
them with various educational and social programs to ensure that
(they) learn from their mistakes, and have tools to make better
choices in the future," Poole said.