NEIGHBOURS WORRY AS NO-GO ZONE EXPANDS

As the red zone expands, banning drug dealers from the area
surrounding downtown, neighbours worry crime will move farther into
their residential neighbourhoods.

At the request of federal crown lawyers, 22 people arrested last
month during a large sweep by police have been released on "expanded
no-go conditions" for a large portion of downtown Nanaimo. The new
red zone will be bounded by Esplanade Street, Milton Street,
Fitzwilliam and Bastion Streets and Front Street.

Supporters of the initiative say pushing drug activity to other
locations could disperse the activity and prevent it from
concentrating in a single area.

Victoria Road resident James Younger said no-go zones can have a
positive impact.

"I think it's proven to be quite effective," he said.

"It does push it around, but the whole idea is to disperse it and
make it a smaller group every time they are pushed. We don't know
where they are going to go next, but I do see the groups of people
getting smaller."