A FEW BRAVE SOULS CAN ENACT GREAT CHANGE

It's hard to stand up against criminals.

For most of us, that world remains a dark, unknown place that we
happily avoid.

We don't want to know drug dealers, and we certainly don't want to
experience their lifestyle.

But there's no choice if a drug house is set up in close proximity to
your home.

While police are concerned about drug houses in the city, they say
they are somewhat constrained in what action they can take by the
Charter of Rights and Freedoms; laws which are good because they
protect the vast majority of us from being held in jail without due
cause, or having our homes searched without a warrant (think Brenda
Martin if you need an example of what can happen in a country without
such protections).

But on the other hand, the charter makes it somewhat more challenging
to move in on a home police believe is a drug house, officers have
told the Times.

Such investigations often take months before enough evidence is
gathered for a search warrant.

But as we've been seeing lately, residents can make a difference when
they come forward with information and report it to police, their
local newspaper and / or city hall.

Thanks to heroes like these, two suspected drug houses the Times has
been made aware of have apparently been scuttled.

Police say it is often non-violent intervention by groups of
neighbours that forces these operations to disband.

One officer recounted how in some upscale neighbourhoods in Surrey,
where marijuana grow operations abound, groups of residents make a
point of visiting new arrivals to the block en masse.

They knock on the door, bring gifts, welcome the new person to the
area, and basically let them know there is a unified presence watching
them.

If they are legitimate, they are pleased to know they are in a good
area. If they were planning to set up a grow-up, they'll likely leave.

The last thing these guys want is attention and scrutiny.

There's more good that came from our citizens coming forward: The city
and police are also under the spotlight, and arguable, will work
harder to get this new nuisance bylaw in place because community
concern is growing and unified.

These are all good things.

It's important to point out residents shouldn't have to handle these
matters on their own.

Even though police insist retribution is very uncommon, it doesn't
change the fact no one wants to live in fear, particularly those who
live right next door to these homes.

But the point is that thanks to the efforts of a few brave souls, more
is being done to stop this problem from spreading, and drug dealers
are on notice that we are watching them.

Hopefully, the actions of these brave residents will yield significant
results -- we thank you.