SMITHERS' CRIME PROBLEM FUELED BY DRUGS: HOLLAND

Smithers may be the crime capital of B.C., but RCMP Staff Sgt. Rod
Holland said the type of crime is the real indicator.

Smithers was named British Columbia's crime capital for 2005, Williams
Lake is second and Quesnel third.

"Much of the crime in Smithers is non-violent," Holland
said.

"A lot of the crime is break and enters to support drug habits and
vehicle theft while under the influence."

He said much of the crime in the Bulkley Valley is fueled by substance
abuse, which is why Smithers is now targeting that issue.

Like Williams Lake and Quesnel, Smithers is a regional hub city
meaning people from outlying areas come to town to shop and to party.

Holland said about 65 per cent of the crime is happening within
municipal boundaries, and if one looks outside the boundaries they
would find the area on par with the provincial average.

The Smithers RCMP detachment has 16 members on general duty who carry
caseload of about 20 to 30 on an average day.

The Smithers detachment has three traffic service members who cover a
larger area.

Holland said he has worked in seven different detachments and admits
it is busy in Smithers.

"It's not a sleepy hollow, it's busy," he said. But in comparison to a
larger city like Kelowna, the crimes are different.

"You have to quantify the types of crime," he says.

You will see a lot more violent crime in the larger urban centre, he
adds.

Last week, Holland released a report to The Interior News that
indicated the detachment has seized approximately $1.4 million worth
of drugs and cash since Sept. 28, 2005.