GETTING TOUGH ON DRUG CRIME

Beazley Promises Police Will Be 'In the Faces' Of Rival Offenders

Halifax Regional Police Chief Frank Beazley says he's going to make
life as difficult as he can for anyone involved in metro's illegal
drug trade in the wake of a series of violent incidents earlier this year.

Beazley said his officers are going to be "in the faces" of the
people responsible for a string of violent incidents earlier this year.

"We're going to have a strategy that we're going to be in their faces
and make it difficult for them," he said.

Beazley said having people tell him they felt unsafe last year was a
major disappointment.

He said he doesn't want a repeat of that next year.

A series of incidents, including shootings and firebombings, followed
the murder of convicted cocaine dealer Wayne Nicholas Marriott last June.

The violence has been linked to a rivalry between two groups involved
in metro's illegal drug trade.

"If you want to sell drugs and you want to shoot people, you can
expect I'm going to make life as difficult as I possibly can for
you," said Beazley.

Most of that strategy is already in place, with officers working
complicated operations aimed at shutting down the major drug groups
in the city.

Beazley said a key component of that strategy will be continuing
Operation Breach, which checks on violent criminals released from
jail on parole or court-ordered conditions. That sort of close
supervision in the community is vital to hampering a return to
criminal activity, said Beazley.

The chief is also planning to add more officers to beats in Halifax
and Dartmouth, especially downtown Halifax. As many as 32 new
officers, paid for by the province, could be on the street by this
time next year.

Flexibility

The force is planning to expand its Quick Response Unit, a team of
plainclothes and uniformed officers assigned to work on emerging
crime issues and to augment other plainclothes units. That could give
Beazley more flexibility to attack problem areas, such as outbreaks
of drug-related violent crime.

Beazley said there is no reason to think Halifax is unsafe. Most
violent incidents involve people leading a risky lifestyle or who are
involved in other criminal activities.

He said his officers are going to continue a "strong, focused"
approach to eliminating drug gangs in metro.

"There is going to be a price to be paid for engaging in those types
of activities."