NEW LAW TARGETS PROPERTIES USED FOR METH LABS, OTHER CRIMES

New provincial legislation will help the public better assist police
in targeting criminal activities such as methamphetamine labs and
marijuana grow operations based on rural properties, say officials.

The Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act was passed in the latest
sitting of the Legislature. The law creates two new so-called Safer
Community and Neighbourhood Team (SCAN) units that will collect and
investigate complaints from the public.

The growth of meth labs and grow operations in rural Alberta makes
the new law timely and necessary, said Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills
Conservative MLA Richard Marz.

"Unfortunately we're not immune to these things," said Marz. "It's
another tool for the communities and law enforcement to deal with
things that affect the community."

One of the largest methamphetamine labs ever busted in Alberta was
found on a rural property near Cremona in 2005.

Criminal activities uncovered by the SCAN units will be forwarded to
local RCMP detachments for followup investigations and charges.

Trevor Gemmell, spokesperson for the Solicitor General and Public
Security Department, told the Gazette the new units will be an
important tool in combating both urban and rural crime.

"We find that derelict properties often breed criminal activities, so
we want to shut these properties down," said Gemmell.

"A lot of times these properties may be rented out and the property
owner may not know what is going on, so the SCAN unit can investigate
and shut down the activities by sending letters to the property
owners telling them to get it cleaned up."

The SCAN units will not have the authority to make raids or arrests,
but will work closely with police and the community, Gemmell added.

"Anything criminal will go to the police," he said. "For the public,
there will be a contact number set up where the public can call if
they suspect or if they find a property that they want investigated
or cleaned up. Then the SCAN team will come and investigate.

Gemmell stresses that the first call should be to police and the
second call should be to the SCAN unit.

Each SCAN team will be made up of 10 members and will likely be
designated as peace officers. The teams will be based in Calgary and
Edmonton, but will patrol throughout the province, including in rural
communities.

The new law was the result of a private member's bill put forward by
MLA Art Johnson.

"Derelict properties can be a breeding ground for criminal activity,
and this act provides communities with a new tool to deal with crime
and disturbances that can devastate our neighbourhoods," said Johnson.

Attorney General Fred Lindsay echoed Johnson's comments.

"This tough new legislation supports community efforts to target and
shut down derelict properties used as drug houses or to commit other
criminal activities that endanger our children and families," said Lindsay.

Justice Minister Ron Stevens said he's also pleased SCNA will give
the community-at-large a chance to have more input into local crime fighting.

"This is a perfect example of the community helping those in the
justice system address crime at the local level," said Stevens.

Over the next number of months work will begin on formulating related
policies, procedures and protocols for the units, with stakeholders,
including local police detachments, health authorities, municipal
agencies and government ministries expected to be involved.

Next month officials with the program will be travelling to
Saskatchewan where similar units are already in operation.

"The operational side of these units needs to be set up," said
Gemmell. "The legislation set out what we can do, but the policies
and procedures now need to be set up.

The legislation itself came in response to the recently released
Crime Reduction and Safe Communities Task Force report, which found
that more needs to be done to prevent crime in urban and rural areas,
the government said.

"Preventing crime and improving safety isn't something the
government, or the courts or the police can do alone, nor will it
happen overnight," the report said.

"Albertans need to take responsibility at all levels. This is about
individuals, families and communities stepping up and recognizing
that many of the factors that contribute to crime are within their hands."

Meanwhile, the new Traffic Safety Amendment Act 2007, also passed
during the recently-completed session, will target drunk drivers by
considering blood alcohol readings taken up to three hours after
driving to be the same as the blood alcohol concentration at the time
of driving.

"Together we have to ensure motorists in this province take safety
seriously by slowing down, staying sober, paying attention and
buckling up," said Luke Ouellette, Minister of Infrastructure and
Transportation.

The act also adds a liability cap for the vehicle leasing and sale
industry, with the responsibility those parties have when a leased or
loaned vehicle is in a collision now being limited.