GIVE CHRONIC CROOKS A CHOICE: CLEAN UP OR STAY LOCKED UP

If like many Vancouverites you are well and truly fed up with the
amount of crime taking place in your city, you will find yesterday's
story on the subject by Province reporter Andy Ivens refreshing reading.

It recounts the experience of a Vancouver police officer assigned to
the city's three-year-old chronic offender program (COP).

Sgt. John Rennie stated what many of us suspect -- that a huge slice
of crime is the work of career criminals, stealing to pay for their
drug addiction.

As Ivens noted: "There are 370 chronic offenders in Vancouver, most
hooked on crack cocaine, who steal about $2,000 worth of property a
day to feed their habits."

Just imagine what would be accomplished if those junkies were taken
off the streets.

The savings in stolen property alone would amount to nearly $750,000
daily -- without counting police and court costs.

For years now, drug law "reformers" and other campaigners --
including judges -- have balked at the notion of jailing addicts.

But as they continue to chant their mantra of "harm reduction," the
problems associated with drug abuse grow worse.

The same addicts get recycled through the courts, only to be freed to
resume their destructive lifestyles.

Sgt. Rennie's solution: Meaningful sentences that benefit both
society and the offender. That means proper jail terms, compulsory
substance-abuse programs and life-skills training.

According to Rennie, it's what the addicts themselves want. "They're
tired, they're fed up . . . they're exhausted. They want to get out
of the game," he told Ivens.

This is the reality of life on Vancouver's mean streets. And it's a
reality that finally seems to have been recognized by our federal politicians.

Announcing a new drug strategy recently, Prime Minister Stephen
Harper said: "If you're addicted to drugs, we'll help you. If you
sell drugs, we'll punish you."

The PM has promised mandatory minimum sentences for "serious" drug
offences, while committing millions for treatment programs.

It's a wise policy that combines compassion and common sense -- just
as Rennie's message does.

He says: "The message we should be sending is: 'You keep committing
your crime, we'll afford you every opportunity to recover . . . or
we're going to send you to jail for a long time and at least give the
community a break from your crime spree.'"

Amen to that, we say.