GROW-OP KIDS SMALL PORTION OF 9,100 CASES

More than 9,000 children in this region were reported as "at-risk" to
the provincial Ministry of Children and Family Development last year.

The incidents range from children left abandoned in cars to far more
serious accounts.

Ministry officials say the number gives perspective to calls from
Surrey's new anti-pot grow op team. The Leader reported last week
that inspections of homes suspected to be grow ops revealed 155 kids
living in "hazardous conditions" last year. The ministry was notified
in each instance, and officials say all calls were investigated, but
can't reveal if any children were taken into provincial protection.

Opposition MLAs want to know what happened to the kids, and suggest
the financially stretched ministry is unable to handle the extra call
volume created by grow op inspections and raids.

Ministry figures are divided by region, with the Fraser area
including all municipalities south of the Fraser River to Hope, along
with Maple Ridge and Port Coquitlam.

The 467 child protection workers in this region received 9,158 calls
in the last year, a ministry spokesperson said, noting 1,600 of those
calls came from police.

Of the total calls, 935 children were removed from their homes and
placed with relatives or put in foster care. Houses used for grow ops
usually contain hazardous wiring, mould and other dangers that could
place children at risk.

A ministry spokesperson said the government is addressing the high volume.

Early last year, the ministry launched a recruiting drive, with an
objective of hiring 100 more child protection workers in each of the
next three years.

Observers feel the regional numbers of reported cases will rise, as
the Surrey grow op team doubles in size, and other municipalities
emulate the effective initiative.

Under the program, B.C. Hydro provides the addresses for homes with
extraordinary electricity consumption - a common feature of grow ops.
Firefighters respond and inspect the houses.

With the team doubled, Surrey Fire Chief Len Garis believes his crews
will inspect a backlog of 1,100 homes.

That means more than 400 more children could be found if the current
rate of families involved in grow ops continues. In addition, other
municipalities, including Delta, Langley, Coquitlam, Pitt Meadows and
Richmond are considering similar campaigns.