GET INVOLVED, CRIME FORUM TOLD

It will take a community effort to solve Williams Lake's crime
problems, according to participants and speakers at last Thursday's
Crime and Violence Forum.

The forum participants almost filled the 400 seat capacity Gibraltar
Room and brought youth, business owners, community policing
volunteers, local residents and victims of crime together to talk
about solutions for the crime problem in the community.

In the short term participants wanted more patrols, including foot
patrols and liked the idea of security cameras in the downtown area.

Sight and Sound business owner Cliff Marcil told the group gathered
he was willing to get out to the downtown core and suggested business
owners get to together to patrol the area at key times. He added the
worst times for break and enters tend to be on weekend nights from 11
p.m. to 5 a.m.

Columneetza teacher Loyd Csizmadia, who encouraged his students to
attend wondered if there could be a block watch for businesses.

Local resident Harry Bell said he liked the idea of having cameras
and wondered why we couldn't have a curfew in Williams Lake.

"Is anyone mad here?" Bell asked the crowd. "I am."

City councillor Ed Mead said the city looked into a curfew and
discovered it is unconstitutional.

The city has purchased two security cameras, said Mead. An additional
two cameras have been budgeted for.

Many citizens expressed the need for more RCMP officers but Mead said
after the last crime forum, one new officer was added. Another
officer was freed up for regular duty when the city hired
community-policing coordinator, which costs the city less.

Caseloads continue to be high in Williams Lake said Staff Sergeant
Grant Martin. There will probably be well over 15,000 this year. He
said an average officer starts the day with 30 to 50 active
investigations.

Martin said he is often asked why RCMP officers are stopping people
for traffic tickets instead of fighting crime. He said the traffic
service officers are a provincial resource and do not report to the
staff sergeant, although he can use them in emergencies.

The traffic officers are part of the provincial Road Safety Vision
2010 strategy to reduce traffic fatalities by 30 per cent. Their
national priorities are seat belts; impaired drivers and aggressive
drivers, said Martin.

Chief Superintendent for the North District Barry Clark said the
initiative has been working and they have reduced the number of
deaths but it is still a problem.

"Here in the north district you are twice as likely to die on the
road than anywhere else in the province," Clark said.

In the long-term participants looked at ways of solving the root
causes of crime. Clark said the majority of crime is because of
substance abuse.

"If you have seen crime grow, I guarantee you it is substance abuse,
trying to feed a habit," said Clark.

For this reason Clark suggested working on the justice system.
Currently there is no mandatory treatment for drug addiction in the
justice system.

"Drugs are a huge issue, that is what is driving crime," agreed
Martin.

Mead added about 80 per cent of crimes can be attributed to alcohol
or drugs. Drugs are on the rise, Mead said, especially crystal meth.

Individuals can take action on the judicial system by lobbying the
provincial government, said city councillor Surinderpal Rathor. Mead
said council has started to lobby the provincial government.

Former Chilcotin resident Marilyn Charleyboy said she moved to
Williams Lake when her daughter reached high school age. She felt the
large number of high school age kids in Williams Lake from the
outlying areas lack guidance because they live here without their
parents.

"It's a recipe for disaster," Charleyboy said. She added the kids
need basic life skills and they don't have a sense of family.

New resident Anna Beddington said the solution for youth in Williams
Lake is to give them something to do. After only seven months in the
lakecity, she says she has seen the problems in the community. She
has spoken to kids on crystal meth and asked them what they want.
She said they have told her Williams Lake is boring and they would
like somewhere to go. She has also surveyed kids in high school and
many said the same thing. They would like a place to hang out, dance,
be safe and stay out of trouble.

"Kids need something," she said. "Give them an option.

Beddington is currently working on starting a teen/preteen
facility.

It is not possible for the RCMP to have an officer in front of every
business or home in town, said Rathor who is a victim of home
invasion. That is why it is so important for everyone to get involved.

There are many ways to get involved to help fight crime. For more
information about volunteer opportunities call Williams Lake
Community Policing office.