LOOKING TO EUROPE FOR ANSWERS ON CRIME

Mayor To Visit For Data On Sex Trade, Drugs

VANCOUVER -- Mayor Sam Sullivan said yesterday he will travel to
Europe on a fact-finding mission to see how major urban centres are
dealing with the sex trade, drug addiction and crime.

He said he will invite politicians from other levels of government to
join him, with an itinerary that will include visits to Finland,
Germany and the Netherlands -- all countries where urban centres have
devised innovative ways to tackle problems of crime and addiction.

"It's very important for us to know there are other jurisdictions
that have experienced very dramatic reductions in crime and disorder
as a result of innovative approaches to drug addiction," the mayor said.

His announcement comes as a government-funded coalition of
businesses, sex-trade workers and neighbourhood associations studies
prostitution in the city. Among the contentious issues they are
considering: introducing safe zones for sex-trade workers and zones
that are off-limits, such as playgrounds and schoolyards.

Mr. Sullivan said he has some reservations about safe zones and would
prefer the city fund programs to help people get out of the sex trade.

The coalition, called Living in Community, will hold open discussions
beginning next month to discuss issues associated with the commercial
sex industry.

The coalition wants to take a pragmatic approach, said member Lisa
Gibson, and will look at ideas on prevention, education and exit
strategies for sex-trade workers who want to leave the profession.

She likened the approach to the four-pillars model the city used to
deal with drug addiction in the Downtown Eastside -- prevention,
treatment, harm reduction and enforcement.

"It's not a promotion for sex workers," Ms. Gibson said. "We
recognize some people come from different perspectives. Some people
think that sex workers is a valid occupation and some people think
it's never okay. We're not prescribing one value base for people . . ."

She said that the issue is safety, both for the sex-trade workers and
the businesses in areas where prostitution is taking place.

Ms. Gibson explained that safe zones are not red-light districts, but
designated areas where sex-trade workers can rest, use restroom
facilities or just stay for short periods without being harassed.

Councillor Raymond Louie said getting some sort of consensus is crucial.

"Like the four-pillar approach with the harm reduction for people who
are drug-addicted, we also need to do some harm reduction for the
businesses in the areas as well," he said. "We didn't hear about how
to address the business aspect, so I hope that will come out."