DRUG-HOUSE BATTLE WILL TAKE SOME TIME

It's a shame it takes so long for police to gather evidence against
suspected drug houses.

For three years, residents in the 600 block of Westgate Street in
Brocklehurst say they've been held emotional hostage by a house they
say is known for its drug trade.

Traffic is so busy at the house, one neighbour compared it to a
drive-thru -- a constant stream of foot, bike and vehicle traffic all
believed to be in search of drugs.

Indeed, the numbers are difficult to ignore.

During a 45-minute interview with Brian Nowicki, who can see the
house from his living room window, Daily News reporter Jason Hewlett
counted nearly a dozen people drive up or walk to the suspected drug den.

"I think it's unfair that one house can ruin a whole neighbourhood,"
Nowicki told our reporter.

Yes, it is unfair. But it's not easy to rid neighbourhoods of drug
houses, as many Canadian communities have learned. The fact that a
house has a lot of traffic doesn't necessarily prove criminal
activity is happening there.

But in the case of the Westgate house, there's more than a high
traffic count to indicate something is amiss. Nowicki says he knows
the homeowner and claims she is an addict.

He says she once tried to clean up the house, with his help, removing
yard garbage that included needles and dead animals. But the cleanup
didn't last long. Now the yard is cluttered with old vehicles,
broken-down campers and assorted junk.

Police are at least familiar with the property -- they were called
three weeks ago when a heroin addict overdosed at the house -- but
according to Nowicki they are doing little to shut down the notorious property.

And another neighbour who runs a day care says her calls to Kamloops
RCMP for a neighbourhood meeting haven't been returned.

So where does that leave the neighbours? In the unenviable position
of waiting and waiting for the law to finally get on their side.
And that's unfortunate.

If the house is exactly what the neighbours claim it to be, then we
hope police will step up their patrols. Surely, it can't be difficult
for them to assemble the necessary evidence.

In the meantime, we applaud the neighbours for their courage in going
public and hope they keep the pressure on police, civic officials and
the homeowner.