CITY'S ANTI-DRUG RED ZONE GROWS

Lawyers Request Expansion of No-Go Area to Reduce Drug Dealing Downtown

The success of Nanaimo's controversial red zone has resulted in it
being expanded.

Following the arrests of 22 people in a large drug sweep in
mid-November, federal Crown lawyers began asking the courts to
increase the size of the zone, after much of the undercover drug
dealing was found to be on the outskirts of the Victoria Crescent area.

"We noticed that the action was moving up Victoria Road," said
federal prosecutor Brian Jones.

The zone originally included Victoria Crescent and surrounding
streets for two blocks. It is now bounded by Esplanade Street, Milton
Street, Fitzwilliam and Bastion Streets and Front Street. That now
takes in the Old City Quarter, Commercial Street and the Haliburton
Street area north of Milton Street.

Jones said the expansion is not because the drug problem is spreading
to those areas, but it is being pushed there by the effectiveness of
the original red zone. "According to police it's popping up all over
the downtown area," he said.

Randy Churchill, manager of the city's bylaws department, said though
the red zone is administered by the police and courts, the city
supports the idea and benefits from it.

"We have absolute faith in the way it's being dealt with," said
Churchill. "It has a very positive effect."

Jones cited a recent decision from the Court of Appeal for B.C.
upholding a red zone in Victoria. The court said it is not punitive,
but assists in keeping drug users from temptation as it cuts them off
from easy access to their supply.

"It's mainly designed to help these people," said Jones.

The idea has been criticized for keeping people from resources they
may require in the area, but Jones said they can easily enter the
zone if they have written permission from a bail or sentence
supervisor. He cited the Salvation Army New Hope Centre on Nicol
Street as possibly offering assistance.