CRIMINAL RECORD SCREENINGS HELPS POLICE REVENUE, SCHOOL TALKS IMPROVE
AWARENESS OF DRUG PROBLEM

The decision by police services in Cobourg and Port Hope to set up
criminal record screenings is paying off in a big way, say the Police
Chiefs of the two communities.

Differing approaches to the prevalence of drugs is also working, the
two chiefs add.

In Cobourg, the department is decreasing-by several hundreds of
thousands of dollars-the monies taxpayers pay for policing, says
Cobourg Police Services Board chairman Bryan Baxter.

In Port Hope, Chief Ron Hoath predicts, once year-end figures are
totalled, the gross amount generated in 2006 will hit $1-million in
his community.

"We're able to do police checks within a couple of days," says Chief Hoath.

That's why residents see Oshawa taxis lining up on the streets near
the Port Hope police station near year's end-because Durham Regional
Police cannot provide such a quick service, he says.

Another strong thrust by both police services in the past year has
been in dealing with drugs.

In Cobourg, the Chief's Drug Challenge to say "No to Drugs" started
in the separate schools targeting young people in Grades 7 to 10,
explains Chief Clement.

He gives a straight talk based on what he has seen drugs do to
people. It's not a scare tactic but it's real life experiences, he explains.

In addition to marijuana and crack cocaine "I'm told now crystal meth
is heating up our town," Chief Clement said.

In 2007 it will be important to get councils and communities on side
to appreciate the drug problem and attack it with education,
treatment, enforcement and harm reduction, he said.

In Port Hope Chief Hoath says joining the Kawartha Combined Drug
Enforcement Unit has put pressure on illegal drug users in Port Hope.

"We've done that in spades," he says. "They are reeling...knowing we
may come in their doors or windows at any time."

The number of search warrants executed has doubled previous years and
at least four times a month the target is right in Port Hope. There
have even been weeks when two raids were done, he added.

Crack cocaine is a big issue, along with marijuana and the
pain-relief prescription drug, Oxycontin, commonly known as "Hilly
Billy Heroine."

"I'm pleased we're able to do something about it," added the Chief.