DRUG DEALING CLEANUP GOING FASTER, POLICE SAY

Inspector Doug LePard, the Vancouver police officer responsible for
overseeing a crackdown on drug dealing in the Downtown Eastside, says the
community is getting cleaned up a lot quicker than expected.

"The numbers [of dealers] are a lot smaller," LePard said Monday.
"This has happened a lot quicker than we thought it would."

But LePard said police are concerned that some of the drug activity has
moved further west.

"The most notable displacement is to the 200-block East Hastings. We know
there's been some displacement, but it's very small numbers. When
you think of the original crowd of drug dealers, the total number of
dealers in other areas are in no way equal to that. The pie has really shrunk.

"[But] we are concerned about the displacement."

Lepard also said officers are getting positive feedback from residents who
are pleased with the crackdown.

He cited a note from an artist, who wrote that he was pleased with the
police operation. "I'm an artist in Gastown and since I moved here in
1984, I've been mugged, beaten up, threatened and constantly harassed by
dealers. Now I don't have that fear."

Another person wrote to say that for the first time in two years he
feels comfortable walking along East Hastings, noting "the environment has
completely changed."

Although he didn't have specific numbers, LePard said most of the drug
dealers targeted in the crackdown have been arrested. He said
detention orders have been issued for 29 people and there are still 25
warrants outstanding.

Earlier he said the crackdown has resulted in a noticeable decline in
drug activity and serious crime in the area. He also said one of the
police strategies is to interrupt the flow of stolen property that is
converted to cash in the area. He said the crackdown is making it much
harder for crooks to sell stolen goods, saying a lot of stolen
property has been seized since the three-month operation began April 7.