DRUG ADDICTIONS ROOT OF CRIME, CHIEF SAYS

Fewer Property Offences; More Robberies

While Regina's most common property crimes continue to fall this year, an
increase in robberies suggests drug-related crimes will continue until the
bigger problem of addictions is addressed, Regina's police chief says.

Monthly crime statistics released Wednesday revealed that, in the first
seven months of 2002, auto thefts are down nearly 33 per cent over the same
period last year. After spiking in early 2002, break-ins are down a modest
half-a-per cent over last year, with the use of alarm systems continuing to
rise.

However, robberies are up nearly six per cent. The increase is typified by
street-robberies.

Johnston said it's possible some robberies may be prompted by drug addicts
who are finding it harder to raise money through break-ins.

"It could be. That's the whole problem with drug addicts. If you don't deal
with the addiction, the person is likely to keep trying to get the income,"
Johnston said.

While that is a larger issue that is not the police's responsibility, city
hall's crime prevention commission is currently drafting a drug strategy
that should call for a multi-partner approach to the problem.

The statistics reflected several encouraging trends. Regina's most
notorious crime problem, auto thefts, continues to fall, a phenomenon
Johnston attributes to the multi-agency strategy unveiled in February.

The program brings together police, prosecutors and corrections workers and
involves incarcerating and monitoring chronic offenders, using alternative
measures to punish first-time offenders and educating at-risk youth.

While he's previously been hesitant to attribute this year's decline to
that program, Johnston was confident Wednesday that the two are related.
"One month, two months, or even three, is not enough to tell us. ...Six
months after that strategy, we know now that it is making the difference."

Johnston said that theft under $5,000, willful damage and mischief are,
like auto theft, "entry level" crimes. They have fallen by five to 12 per
cent this year. "These are crimes that see some youth involvement... The
program we (devised) for auto theft is having a ripple effect."

New provincial legislation authorizing the seizure of "john's" vehicles has
been reflected in a 12-per-cent increase in prostitution-related charges.
So far this year, 42 vehicles have been seized and will be released if the
offenders agree to attend "John school," Johnston said. There have been no
permanent seizures of vehicles yet.

There have been 14 reported arsons, less than a third of the 45 reported
during the same period last year. Johnston credited an in-school
educational campaign by the firefighters, police and schools boards, as
well as a change in the way police and fire vehicles respond to suspected
arson fires in north central neighborhoods. City hall has even changed its
garbage pickup policy in problem areas "so containers were empty over the
weekend," Johnston said.

"For three years running, we saw a seasonal rise in fires each spring and
fall, and this year we didn't see an increase."