GROW OPS GETTING OUT OF HAND

Dear Editor:

A recent media report stating that 18,000 homes in the Lower Mainland
use an excessive amount of electricity - indicating that they are
suspected marijuana growing operations - is evidence of what has long
been suspected: namely, that the Lower Mainland is overrun with grow
ops.

I have received many reports of suspected grow ops in Burnaby and have
been told that when these incidents are reported to the police, the
usual police response is that they do not have sufficient manpower to
deal with the problem.

I believe that only a small percentage of suspected grow ops are
investigated by the police, and an even smaller percentage prosecuted,
because doing so is very time-consuming and the police manpower
available is so limited.

In order to deal with the problem, substantial additional funds must
be allocated in order to provide the required additional police
manpower, and this increased manpower must be organized into special
units to deal specifically with the grow op problem.

The complaints of citizens must be dealt with effectively. The people
running these operations are hardened criminals and will and do resort
to violent crime against neighbouring homeowners to protect their operations.

The problem is greater than merely interdicting the flow of marijuana,
it involves protecting people in their homes.

I call upon all of the cities in the Lower Mainland, and especially
the City of Burnaby, to increase their funding for police officers and
to direct that funding to dealing with marijuana grow operations.

Garth Evans, Burnaby city councillor