CRIME RISING

Stronger Sentences Needed To Deter Crime: Police

Sydney - Shadows of the island's drug trade surface in many criminal
charges now at historic levels in this region, say police.

At first glance, drug trafficking looks like a non-violent offence,
said Chief Edgar MacLeod, Cape Breton Regional Police.

"But it's what the whole business of drugs leads to," he said.
"People need to understand this is a concern for everyone."

Serious investigations overwhelm the Cape Breton Regional
Municipality's five-member street and drug unit and devour most of
the team's time and resources. Since Jan. 1 2006, the unit has laid
24 charges of drug possession for the purpose of trafficking (11 for
cocaine and 13 for marijuana), six drug trafficking charges and six
charges of possession for drug substances like Ecstasy and OxyContin.

Since the start of this year, police seized 17 weapons, drugs with a
street value of about $575,000 and $25,000 in cash. Motorcycles were
confiscated as well as all-terrain vehicles, electronic equipment,
loaded handguns and shotguns.

Tendrils from the drug trade besiege communities dizzy with criminal
activity at its highest since 1995, said MacLeod.

A comparison of police reported incidents between Jan. 1, 2006 and
Aug. 31, 2006, and the same time frame in 2005 show substantial leaps
in many categories.

Sexual offences have increased by 52 per cent, robberies jumped by 50
per cent, domestic assaults are up 42 per cent, fraud grew by 29 per
cent and 23 per cent more vehicles were stolen. Physical assaults
were up by 10 per cent, there were eight per cent more break and
enters and a 27 per cent rise in breaches of court orders.

A single investigation can significantly deplete a police officer's
ability to patrol a district, said MacLeod. A recent fraud
investigation involving the theft of cheques from an island business
is one example. At the end of the investigation, four male adults
were charged with theft, fraud, impersonation and other related charges.

"That investigation involved 80 statements," said MacLeod. Each male
charged is known to be a cocaine addict, he added.

Countless hours are spent on surveillance, gathering criminal
intelligence, working with informants and interviewing witnesses in
many criminal cases.

What's frustrating police is that once individuals are charged,
sentences lack the strength needed to deter future criminal activity.

"The benefits of them staying in the business outweighs the risk of
getting caught," said MacLeod. "The system needs meaningful
sentences. If their freedom is taken away, it makes it less desirable
to get in the business. You'll see a dramatic drop in crime."

MacLeod said he is in discussions with provincial Justice Minister
Murray Scott and said he believes that Premier Rodney MacDonald is
sincere in his efforts to improve safety and security in Nova Scotia.

"I'm convinced they want to make a difference."

MacLeod said more enforcement will only lead to more arrests.

"It doesn't address the cause," he said. "It's beyond resources.

"The community and government need a strategy. What's leading people
to such destructive behaviour?"

Box(es):

14-YEAR-OLD YOUNG OFFENDER

Female

Charge: theft June 27, 2006

Arrested and released on an undertaking

Since her release, there were 12 breaches from three separate
undertakings including one on the same day of a release under a new undertaking

15-YEAR-OLD YOUNG OFFENDER

Male

Charge: assault with a weapon

Arrested and placed on an undertaking with a court date

Since his release, he has been placed on seven undertakings. He has
breached them 58 times, been sentenced five times and placed on a
probation order. He breached those orders 16 times. He spent months
in custody. He has been charged with mischief seven times, six times
for theft, twice for break and enter, three times for possession of
stolen goods. There are two investigations involving theft of money
from a residence and allegations of a breach of deferred custody and
supervision order

16-YEAR-OLD YOUNG OFFENDER

Male

39 incidents investigated by police; 54 charges between November 2003
and September 2006

Charges: theft, vehicle theft, dangerous operation of motor vehicle,
failure to stop vehicle for police, carrying a concealed weapon,
assault with a weapon, careless use of a firearm, robbery, uttering
threats, possession of stolen property, damage to property, break and
enter, prowling, breaches of probation/undertakings

In custody nine months in 2005 sydney, nova scotia

CAPE BRETON REGIONAL POLICE CRIME STATISTICS

Jan 1. to Aug. 31, 2005

Homicide: 2

Sexual offence: 59

Physical assault: 320

Robbery: 18

Domestic assault: 327

Break and enter: 354

Fraud: 239

Breach of court orders: 387

Stolen vehicles: 143

Jan 1. to Aug. 31, 2006

Homicide: 2

Sexual offence: 90

Physical assault: 351

Robbery: 27

Domestic assault: 464

Break and enter: 326

Fraud: 170

Breach of court orders: 492

Stolen vehicles: 176

(Source: Cape Breton Regional Police)