HARD TIMES CRIME-CRUNCH

Experts warn of spike in drug-pushing, robberies, muggings

If the economy goes into a tailspin, Edmontonians should brace for a
boom in street violence, drug addiction and homicides, according to a
University of Alberta criminologist.

Crime experts the world over are warning that economic slumps are
often accompanied by spikes in crime.

Some U.S. experts told the New York Times in areas hit hard by
foreclosures, abandoned houses can become a hub for prostitutes and
gangs, ruining neighbourhoods.

Others argue that more people will turn to robbery and
muggings.

Veteran criminologist Bill Pitt, an expert on local crime issues, says
the climate during a slump is advantageous for Edmonton's gangs, which
have been pinpointed as one of the major causes of crime here.

"Organized crime is recession-proof," he said yesterday. "The big
problem we have right now is organized crime. Everything flows
downward from it. Not upwards from some magical root cause."

If the economy tanks, cheap drugs will flood the streets and be
"disseminated to even elementary schools," causing a slough of
problems, Pitt predicts. And organized crime giants will begin to take
advantage of business owners who can't weather the tough times and buy
out their businesses, blurring the line between what's criminal and
what's legitimate, he said.

Pitt says the police, who have been underfunded for decades, won't be
able to get a handle on it.

The best average residents can do is "sit down and enjoy the
ride."

"It's too little, too late," he said. "This city and its soft-on-crime
mentality it's had for 20 years has put police in a situation of being
on the outside looking in. This waste of time, money and effort
looking for a root cause is absolutely moot."

Not so, says Coun. Amarjeet Sohi, who sits on the Edmonton Police
Commission.

While Sohi said he thinks there is a link between crime and the
economy, it's important to be proactive to prevent crime rather than
be reactive to crime that exists.

"There is a link between poverty and crime," he said. "People who live
in poverty don't get to enjoy a (high) quality of life or be engaged
in the community, forcing young people into (crime.)"

But as Edmontonians have seen, violence and crime also spikes during
boom times, he added.

"We have a booming economy. We have a transient population, so that's
given rise to criminal activity, too," he said.

Coun. Tony Caterina, who also sits on the police commission, agrees
that crime is rampant at both ends of the economic spectrum.

"In a boom time, like any other business, (criminals) want to be where
the money is," he said. "Now with the economy going down, they have a
better opportunity to recruit gang members."

Unlike Pitt, Caterina said he believes there's still an opportunity to
curb crime.