DRUG CHARGES UP '1,500%'

A 15-fold increase in drug possession charges in Espanola is the
direct result of the Espanola Police Service doing what it said it
was going to do, according to Chief Ray Freeman.

The EPS has been focusing on drug crime for the past three years.
Espanola had the largest increase in drug charges between 2000 and
2007, percentage-wise, in all of Ontario as a result. The numbers
were borne of an analysis performed by the Canadian Press.

Sixty-three drug possession charges were filed in 2007 in the
Espanola area, compared with just four counts in 2000 according to
the CP analysis.

Freeman said with the focus of the EPS on drugs and violence, he
would expect the number of charges to increase.

"What this means to us is that we are following our business plan in
the essence that drugs are something we have targeted over the last
three years," Freeman said. "We have spent a considerable amount of
resources on identifying people that are using drugs and prosecuting
those people that we encounter."

Espanola saw 10 weapons charges last year, up from eight seven years earlier.

The analysis found the number of weapons charges climbed in all but
four Ontario communities during the seven-year period.

Across the province, the analysis suggests violent crime, drugs and
weapons have become a serious and growing problem for small urban communities.

While the number of impaired driving charges dropped provincially, it
remained relatively stable in Espanola, at around 75 counts last year.

Sexual assault charges went to 11 last year, nearly half the 2000
figure of 23 counts.

But the analysis also suggests people in Ontario have been waiting
longer for justice, regardless of where they live.

In Espanola in 2007 it took the better part of a year, 236 days on
average, for a charge to be resolved. That's an increase of more than
three months since 2000.

Gore Bay sees jump in crimes

Weapons charges in the Gore Bay area jumped in the seven years since
2000, following a trend seen right across Ontario.

An analysis by The Canadian Press of provincial criminal charges
found the number of weapons charges skyrocketed in all but four
Ontario communities between 2000 and 2007.

Despite only a modest increase in population during the period, the
small community on Manitoulin Island saw one of the largest increases
in violent crime charges in the province.

Violent crime counts increased almost 70 per cent to 543 charges last
year, while weapons charges spiked at 53.

While impaired driving charges dropped across the province, the
number of people charged in Gore Bay remained relatively stable at
144 charges last year.

Sexual assault and drug possession charges also remained virtually unchanged.

In Gore Bay, it took almost five months -- 147 days on average -- for
a charge to be resolved last year, an increase of nearly 30 days since 2000.

Drug charges in town almost triple

Drug possession charges in the Elliot Lake area nearly tripled
between 2000 and 2007.

An analysis by The Canadian Press of provincial criminal charges
found drug counts jumped 183 per cent to 51 charges last year.

Violent crime charges in Elliot Lake also spiked 18 per cent, rising
to 230 charges last year.

Sexual assault charges in Elliot Lake have remained relatively
stable, while the number of impaired driving charges dropped 12 per
cent to 83 charges last year.

In Elliot Lake, it took 207 days on average for a charge to be
resolved in 2007, an increase of nearly two months since 2000.

An accused in Elliot Lake also spent more time in court last year,
making an average of six appearances, up from four seven years earlier.