DELTA TO START GROW-OP INSPECTIONS

Delta is going to make it tougher on those who have marijuana grow-ops
and drug labs.

Delta council approved a proposal Monday to follow the lead of several
other municipalities and create a public safety team to target
grow-ops by conducting inspections.

Saying they will look at what has worked and what mistakes have been
made in cities, such as Coquitlam and Surrey, that have already
established teams, fire chief Dan Copeland and deputy chief Byron
Funnell outlined the Public Safety Initiative, a plan to create a
Delta team involving the fire department and municipal hall staff.

The team would conduct inspections on homes with unusually high
electrical usage, a telltale sign of a marijuana grow-op.

A report to council notes recent records from BC Hydro indicate there
are more than 230 properties in Delta that warrant further
investigation.

The safety team would also act on complaints such as unusual odours
coming from a house as well as illegal home alterations and storage of
chemicals.

"In the City of Coquitlam, they've invited us to go on a few
ride-alongs and we'll take advantage of that," said Copeland. "They
are focusing on homes with high electrical consumption and we'll start
off just on that at the beginning."

The province introduced legislation a couple of years ago that makes
it easier for inspectors to enter private properties to ensure homes
don't pose a hazard as well as to require property owners to make
repairs to ensure homes meet acceptable health and safety standards.

Funnel said grow-ops and other illegal drug operations such as meth
labs are becoming sophisticated, but are also extremely hazardous to
neighbours and emergency crews if a fire breaks out.

"Another disturbing stat indicates that 24 per cent of all busted grow
operations had kids in attendance," he said. "Other jurisdictions from
throughout the Lower Mainland have had a tremendous amount of success
in limiting their grow operations, but our concern is where have they
relocated."

Copeland said it's important for residents to keep an eye on unusual
activities in their neighbourhoods and report them to police or the
municipality. He noted a sizable grow-op was discovered in a home
across the street from his house.

Earlier this decade, Delta police started a program to target grow-ops
called Operation Bud-Out. Mayor Lois Jackson said that operation was
successful. However, it's become even more difficult for police to act
on suspected grow-ops after the B.C. Supreme Court last year ruled
police couldn't accompany safety teams without a search warrant.

Jackson said she's glad there's a way to get around that obstacle. In
the Delta program, police will be on hand to watch inspectors enter a
premises, but won't enter the home themselves. However, if inspectors
find illegal activities, they will immediately cut power and inform
police to obtain a warrant to investigate further.

Jackson, who chairs the police board, echoed Copeland's comment that
residents should report suspected grow operations and shouldn't ignore
them. She said they are a safety hazard for neighbourhoods, resulting
in fires and violence.

"If you think you have a grow-op in your community, in your
neighbourhood, phone us and let us know. A lot of the neighbours know
what's going on but they have to let us know and have a zero tolerance
for this activity."