SPEAK OUT TO BATTLE CRIME

OK, Prince George, Speak Up.

The RCMP wants to hear from residents about how drugs and the drug
trade have affected their lives.

As reported in Friday's Citizen, the information received from the
public will form what the police are calling a community
victim-impact statement, which will be presented in court before
sentencing of those convicted of drug-related offences in the city.

It's an expanded version of the usual victim-impact statements which
are presented in court by individuals personally affected by a
criminal's actions.

A community statement means the "victim" is a collection of people --
your neighbours or city business owners -- who have been affected in
some way by the drug trade.

Police say close to a dozen downtown business owners have already
submitted letters. Brazen drug-dealing outside their premises have
driven away customers, caused a decline in business and are at the
root of a deterioration of downtown, they say.

Drug investigator Const. Kent MacNeill said drug-dealing downtown has
become more prevalent in the past year or so. He speculates that a
portion of the drug trade has migrated to public areas downtown from
the privacy of crack houses.

MacNeill wants to hear about the public's experiences with drugs and
alcohol and the effect they have had on their lives and livelihood.

Once collected, the community victim-impact statement will be
presented in court for judges to consider at sentencing. The RCMP is
in the process of issuing arrest warrants to suspected 27
drug-traffickers and the impact statement will be used as part of
their prosecution, said MacNeill.

It's hoped the experiences of community members will compel the
courts to deal more severely with drug dealers.

A united public stand is also a call to local government to do
everything it can to clean up downtown.

The drug trade has far-reaching, damaging consequences to people in
no way connected to it. This is their chance to fight back.