PROJECT AIMS TO ZAP GROW-OPS

Just as Al Capone was brought down on tax laws, the city of Richmond
aims to stamp out criminal drug operators with an electrical safety
bylaw.

"This will give another weapon to the RCMP. Give us a little more
teeth to bite these guys with," said Coun. Derek Dang during
Wednesday's Community Safety Committee meeting.

While it might seem like hunting grizzly with a fly swatter, an
Electrical Fire Safety Inspection project has proven remarkably
effective in Surrey, according to a staff report that recommended the
committee initiate a pilot project in Richmond.

The initiative is an alternate, administrative approach intended to
complement, not replace, the criminal system, according to Surrey fire
chief Len Garis.

"While EFSI programs are by no means a complete solution, they quickly
and efficiently mitigate some of the immediate safety concerns related
to residential grow operations - something the traditional approach
has failed to do," Garis wrote in a report about the project.

By targeting low-level grow-ops, the program also helps clear the
court backlog, enabling the criminal system to deal with high-level
organized crime, he noted.

Although Richmond's population is slightly less than half of Surrey's,
the problem of grow-ops here is equally alarming, said Dang, who
called it a "pandemic."

He, along with the rest of the committee, voted in favour of the
one-year pilot project that involves establishing a team consisting of
a fire chief, two RCMP officers and an electrical inspector. The team
would request information from BC Hydro regarding residences where
there is unusually high electrical consumption.

Last May, the province amended legislation to the BC Safety Standards
Act. BC Hydro is now required to divulge the "name of account holder,
civic address, and relevant consumption records for residential homes
that meet or exceed 93 kilowatt-hours per day, which is three times
the normal consumption rate," according to the staff report.

The team would request that information, and then consult with police
regarding safety or active investigations. If it is deemed appropriate
for the team to investigate, the owner would be given notice of
inspection. If a grow-op is found, the team would cut off electricity
to the residence, notify insurance companies and financial
institutions and put the $2,000 inspection fee on tax owing. (Surrey's
inspection fee is $2,000 - a sum Richmond councilors agreed with,
although staff recommended $1,450.)

Inspectors would also call other agencies such as the Ministry of
Children and Family Development, if appropriate.

According to Surrey records, the number of residential grow-ops in
which children were living went up from 4.5 per cent in 2001 to 20 per
cent in 2003.

The project is expected to be financially self-supported: Revenue
generated through fines will offset the cost of additional personnel.

Nevertheless, staff is requesting a temporary 2007 funding source of
$560,100 to support the project in the first year.

The EFSI team will not replace the Richmond RCMP Green Team, which
investigates marijuana operations. However, "it's one more tool in our
tool box," said RCMP Supt. Ward Clapham.

By getting low-level grow-ops out of residential neighbourhoods, the
project at least mitigates some of the immediate safety hazards and
the myriad of social problems grow-ops bring to a neighbourhood.

Although committee members strongly endorsed the project, Coun. Bill
McNulty said it should be expanded to include warehouses and
commercial areas.

As it stands, investigations will only be conducted on single family
residences.

"I think this is a wonderful initiative for us to follow. I think this
strikes at what we want to hit," said Dang.

Regarding privacy, the city can share information received from BC
Hydro with police, but the police cannot use this indirect information
to obtain a search warrant.

Staff recommended the program provide a status report after six and 12
months.

Council must still approve the project.