DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE NEEDS MORE POLICE FORCE, LESS TASK FORCE

Few would dispute that more needs to be done to combat the menace
posed by repeat offenders in Vancouver's crime-ridden Downtown Eastside.

Whether involved in drug dealing, auto theft or breaking and entering,
these law-breakers wreak havoc on society and make a mockery of our
justice system.

That's why we applaud the intent behind Attorney-General Geoff Plant's
newly-appointed criminal justice committee mandated to develop
long-term solutions for repeat offenders.

The 12-member Street Crime Working Group, including representatives
from all levels of government, is to return in a year with proposals
for a new criminal justice response to street crime.

"The cycle of street crime cannot be completely solved by the courts,"
notes Provincial Chief Judge Carol Baird-Ellan, a member of the group.
"The courts are seeing the same offenders over and over again, which
creates backlogs and undermines public confidence in the system."

However, while a task force can't hurt , we note that the city's skid
row crime problems have been evident for years -- as have the solutions.

Do we need another study to spell out what they are? Clean and
affordable housing and medical aid for the mentally ill, treatment --
compulsory, if need be -- for chronic addicts, tougher sentences, if
only to send a signal to criminals elsewhere.

Put another way, we must start tackling crime at the street level. We
must enforce the law more vigilantly instead of following the
misguided policies of civic leaders.

Take Surrey. A recent crackdown on street crime in troubled Whalley,
including increased police presence and zero tolerance for criminal
behaviour, appears to be working. Whalley residents say they've
noticed changes that have led to citizens feeling safer on the streets.

It's a New York-style, "tough love" approach that should have been
employed in the Downtown Eastside years ago. The crime issues unique
to the area have already been studied to death.

What do you think?