CUPE WANTS TO SET UP CRIME-WATCH PROGRAM INVOLVING MUNICIPAL WORKERS

DELTA - Local civic workers want to become extra eyes and ears for the police.

Representatives from Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 454 were
at Delta council this week outlining a proposed City Watch program,
aimed at reducing crime by encouraging workers working outdoors to be
on extra alert for suspicious activities.

"While we are out in the community we'd be trained what to look for,
things such as grow-ops, chop shops, break-ins or high-risk
offenders," said Darryl Robison, president of Local 454.

Although details still have to be worked out, the training would be
minimal, Robison noted.

"It's just an hour or two and it would involve the Delta police coming
over and telling our people what to look for, signs of grow ops and
working through the report forms and advise them not to intervene."

According to CUPE BC, City Watch has already been adopted in Victoria,
Ladysmith, the Township of Langley, Prince George and Kamloops.
Chilliwack also recently implemented it and Burnaby is designing a
training program for the initiative.