PROCEEDS OF CRIME

Windsor police officers are seizing hundreds of thousands of dollars
from local criminals, but the force can't roll that money back into
crime-fighting initiatives because of slow and restrictive
legislation.

The sad result is that money sits gathering dust -- but not interest
- -- in a safe in police headquarters while criminals don't face the
additional pressures they would if that money was put to better use.

"The American model is much more lucrative or easier for them to
access than the Canadian or Ontario models," said Windsor police Chief
Glenn Stannard. "Quite frankly, I think it's broken, it's not working.
They are trying to introduce legislation that will add a little bit of
accessibility to it, but it's too slow, it's too cumbersome, but if
they opened it up more I think you would find that money being
reinvested into fighting crime."

Currently, proceeds of crime are supposed to go the province or
federal government and municipalities must wait a significant period
to get back only a portion. The regulations should be changed so
municipalities can access the funds more quickly and with less red
tape.

Money taken from Windsor thugs should be used to make the streets of
this community safer. It shouldn't go to other communities and it
shouldn't sit unused in a safe where it doesn't do any good for this
community and its residents.