EDMONTON TO TRY MANITOBA'S GET-TOUGH LAW

EDMONTON - Alberta police and social agencies want to steal from the
Manitoba government's playbook to shut down drug houses and brothels.

Speaking at a conference in Edmonton on Thursday, Manitoba NDP member
Andrew Swan outlined measures his government has taken to
successfully crack down on drug operations and the sexual
exploitation of women and children.

One tactic he said has worked for a crime-plagued, west-end Winnipeg
neighbourhood allows police to target drug houses and brothels
without a search warrant.

Provincial legislation allows citizens to complain about illegal
activities in a home or apartment to police, who then put that home
under surveillance without having to go to court to get a warrant.

Police often take the videotaped evidence to landlords.

"They knock on the landlord's door and they say, 'Hi. We're here from
the public safety investigation unit. We've got some surveillance
tapes of your tenants. You either get those tenants out of there, or
we're going to close this place down.'

"And lo and behold, the ... thing works."

Authorities have busted illegal activities in over 200 homes and apartments.

Hiring a community Crown prosecutor who specializes in crimes that
hit neighbourhoods hard -- such as drug dealing, pimping or
aggressive panhandlers -- has helped, Swan said.

Edmonton police Insp. Brian Nowlan said similar legislation in
Alberta would be a boon to investigators who struggle to shut down
drug dens or curb prostitution.