PROJECT REPRISE BATTLES CRACK

Hamilton Police has released the results of its three-week Project
Reprise - and the 41 arrests indicate there will be a marked decrease
in area property crimes.

Project Reprise was formed as a combined effort of the Hamilton
Police, Division One High Enforcement Action Team (H.E.A.T.) and Core
Patrol Units to minimize the criminal activities, specifically
robberies and property crime in the Division One patrol area.

According to police, the basis of this project was to utilize an
intelligence-led technique that involved information sharing between
the Hamilton Police Vice and Drug Unit, Break, Enter and Robbery
(B.E.A.R.) unit, Division One H.E.A.T. Unit and Division One Crime
Managers which relied heavily upon a teamwork concept.

With the intelligence obtained, Reprise project members aggressively
targeted crack houses, crack addicts, and street level dealers
throughout the city. The goal was to reduce the level of property
crimes related to the use of crack cocaine and obtain valuable
intelligence to reduce potential property crimes. Further, the team
interviewed crack cocaine users with the intention of learning more
about the users and the crimes they commit to support their habit.

During the three weeks the project was running, the team arrested 41
people and shut down seven crack houses in the lower city. The open
and positive communication between uniform patrol, H.E.A.T. units,
Crime Managers and project members was fundamental in achieving
project objectives, noted a recent HPS media release.

Project Reprise concluded with 41 arrests, 39 charges under the
Controlled Drug and Substances Act and 22 Criminal Code charges.
During the investigation officers carried out seven undercover buys
and five search warrants. Seven crack houses were shut down, with
eight warrants resulting in four robbery arrests.

According to the Hamilton Police Service, the community as a whole
will benefit from the project's success because of the aggressive,
proactive approach to targeting crack houses and users. All parties
arrested were debriefed and valuable intelligence has been obtained to
combat robbery offences.