NO EXCUSE FOR ROGUE SECURITY GUARDS IN EASTSIDE

It may be the saddest, poorest, most-distressed corner of the country,
but even in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside there's a line. And if you
cross it, you're going down.

Acting on a growing number of complaints from local residents, the
Vancouver Police Department is investigating serious allegations of
extortion, assault and intimidation involving some of the
neighbourhood's security personnel. The hired guards -- all of whom
work as independents or for smaller, less legitimate security firms --
stand accused of administering their own criminal brand of street
justice on the streets of the Downtown Eastside.

The allegations are disturbing.

Insp. John McKay, commander of the enforcement team responsible for
the Downtown Eastside, said one woman was taken into a backroom after
being caught shoplifting, robbed of $40, bent over and spanked. Others
have been beaten bloody.

"People are getting the crap beat out of them," McKay said earlier
this week. "They are being assaulted."

Vancouver Police Department spokeswoman Const. Sarah Bloor says "there
are people who are very much on our radar," and the accusations are
being thoroughly investigated. She says many of the victims are
"genuinely fearful" of these violent goons and reluctant to come forward.

The roving guards are hired to maintain the peace in the beleaguered
neighbourhood, and protect the business interests of their employers.
They are not paid to beat people up.

"Not only is it unprofessional, but it's criminal," says Bloor. "If we
do find enough evidence to go forward with criminal charges, we're
going to do that."

The cops are to be commended for taking these accusations seriously,
for stepping up for those who can't necessarily stand up for
themselves. Insp. McKay says officers are going undercover to roust
the bad apples, and all security personnel in the Downtown Eastside
are "on notice."

Kim Kerr, executive director with the Downtown Eastside Residents
Association, was gobsmacked to hear the VPD is going after the rogue
guards.

"That's wonderful news to me," says Kerr. "The police department has
confirmed our fears about these people. This is a question of our
rights as Canadians, our right to walk down our streets."

Kerr says the neighbourhood has been "crawling with security forces"
since 2000.

"Some of these new guys, from all the reports I'm getting, are a much
more kick-ass crowd," he says.

Kerr points out that Vancouver already has a police department, one
that is legal and accountable.

"We don't need private businesses hiring their own police force," he
says. "It needs to stop."

At the very least, it must be cleaned up. And fast. Because the last
thing the Downtown Eastside needs is another can of gasoline.