RCMP STEPS UP CRIME ENFORCEMENT IN SOUTH OKANAGAN

Penticton Crackdown Pushes Criminals South To Oliver & Osoyoos

Osoyoos RCMP Staff Sergeant Kurt Lozinski agrees with Penticton's
Inspector Dan Fudge -- criminals are feeling the heat due to stepped
up enforcement in that city's crime reduction strategy.

But while the recently released 2005 annual RCMP report finds
Penticton's crime rate has dropped, it also finds that pressure on
drug activity has displaced criminals south to the Osoyoos/Oliver area.

"Once you start targeting bad guys, you either put them in jail or
displace them. Knowing that, we're prepared to deal with additional
criminal activity, and Oliver has been the first to feel that
impact," Lozinski says.

He notes more co-ordinated efforts between the Princeton, Keremeos,
Summerland, Oliver and Osoyoos detachments -- under the umbrella of
the South Okanagan-Similkameen Regional Detachment -- will target
known criminals in towns and rural areas.

"It's good to know who these criminals are, and we will use every
lawful means available to us to catch these people."

Although the goal is to make communities safer, he adds incarceration
is not always the answer, as "a lot of times, people come out as
'better' criminals."

Lozinski says the RCMP is only one cog in the wheel of the justice
system. He would like to see more citizens come out as court
watchers. Groups like Mothers Against Drunk Drivers are "a great
example" of people becoming proactive and working to change laws.

"Public opinion is the biggest catalyst to change. I would love to
see people give more victim impact statements. Crime impacts
everyone, from the obvious victims, to increased ICBC rates for all
of us. Even if you say you fear going out at night because you might
become a victim of a crime, you are changing your behaviour and that
is impacting your life."