VPD: DOES INSITE FEED ADDICTION?

Cops Poke Around Safe Injection Site Debate

Don't expect the Vancouver Police Department to wade into the debate
surrounding the medical merits of the city's supervised injection
site, says the VPD's drug policy coordinator.

Insp. Scott Thompson recently told Parliament's health committee in
Ottawa that the VPD is focused on public safety, but supports the
Insite drug injection site on East Hastings as a research project.
But Thompson made no mention of whether the VPD supports extending
Insite's operating licence with the federal government.

Unlike his predecessor Jamie Graham, Police Chief Jim Chu has not
sent a letter to Health Canada requesting an extension of Insite.

Thompson made his comments May 29 on behalf of Chu and the VPD. The
Courier obtained a written copy of Thompson's speech, which was
recently posted on the House of Commons' website.

Thompson told the committee the VPD reached two conclusions on
Insite. "One, that our expertise is in policing and public safety,
not in health and health research, and therefore we should always be
cautious when and if we choose to support or criticize public health
initiatives and/or research, given that our expertise lies elsewhere."

The second conclusion was that, regardless of whether the VPD agreed
with the concept of drug injection sites, the department needed to be
"at the table" with medical experts and decision-makers.

Thompson said the VPD is reviewing various studies on Insite and "the
linkages to crime and disorder." The department believes more
research needs to be focused on whether Insite and other drug-related
services "potentially facilitate and perpetuate" the cycle of
addiction--and whether this has a negative impact on addicts seeking treatment.

Thompson was the author of the VPD's operational plan for Insite,
which opened in September 2003. He also developed the Insite
orientation packages for VPD members and Vancouver Coastal Health staff.

Insite was supposed to close Monday, but a recent B.C. Supreme Court
ruling allowed the operators of the facility--the PHS Community
Services Society and Vancouver Coastal Health--to keep the doors open
indefinitely.

B.C. Supreme Court Justice Ian Pitfield granted drug users a
permanent constitutional exemption from prosecution under the
country's drug laws. Pitfield gave the government, which has appealed
the decision, until June 30, 2009 to amend the drug laws.

Donald MacPherson, the city's drug policy coordinator, also spoke to
the health committee about Insite. MacPherson said the city was
"satisfied" with the remarkable amount of research on Insite. "At
this time, I would urge the committee to consider ways to move beyond
this debate over harm reduction or injections sites, as it is costing
us valuable time, energy, and, most importantly, the lives of
Canadians," MacPherson said.

Federal Health Minister Tony Clement's speech to the committee
criticized the Supreme Court ruling. He cited comments of VPD Insp.
John McKay--an outspoken critic of Insite--to build his case against Insite.

Mayor Sam Sullivan is on record of supporting the extension of
Insite's operating licence for at least another three years.
Sullivan, however, has said he has no plans to lobby for additional
injection sites.