DRUG ADDICTED AND HOMELESS TO BE KEPT FURTHER OUT

While the red zone may have helped ebb the tide of criminal behaviour
in Kelowna's most highly trod areas, it subsequently helped ramp up
the number of crimes in neighbourhoods outside its downtown boundaries.

The red zone is an area of downtown Kelowna created by the RCMP where
known criminals, drug dealers, drug addicts and the homeless are prohibited.

It's an issue that was brought to the forefront last week when
Kelowna resident David Post was attacked by apparent drug users
outside his home in the area of Kelglen Street and Richmond Avenue.
At that time, Post expressed his frustration with the increasing
number of drug users in his neighbourhood, and put together a
community meeting to deal with the issue.

RCMP have been aware of the displacement problem for some time, and
in the past couple of weeks they've been moving ahead to create an
"orange zone," which will essentially work the same as the already
established red-zone, explained superintendent Bill McKinnon.

"Because of the number of incidents we are repeatedly having with the
homeless, and drug-addicted we established the orange zone for that
high crime area," he said.

He noted that the orange zone will encompass the area around Capri
Mall, which has seen a marked increase in thefts, drug trafficking
and drug use.

"When we catch them doing an offence in that area, we then ask the
court to stop permitting them to enter that area."

The red, and orange zones are part of what McKinnon calls "firm and
fair enforcement" of the downtown, and said though he knows they
cause displacement, there's no way to predict where the
criminally-inclined will move to.

Displacement is not a red-zone unique phenomenon, either.

McKinnon said that there have been increasing numbers of homeless,
drug-addicted people throughout the city, particularly in downtown
parks and that they've landed in this city from areas like Calgary
and Vancouver.

He also asked when residents see something they believe to be
suspicious that they report it to the RCMP.

"They're our eyes and ears," he said.