REPORT PRAISES CITY'S GROW-OP PROGRAM

A new report has confirmed what local officials have said for some
time: Surrey's novel approach to battling marijuana grow operations is working.

In 2004, Surrey started the Electrical Fire Safety Initiative (EFSI),
where municipal teams including fire, bylaws and police attend homes
that BC Hydro has reported as showing high power consumption - which
is a signature of a grow operation.

The owners are given 72 hours to allow inspection, however, most of
the time, grow operators have packed up and left by the time inspectors arrive.

A report released this week authored by criminologist Darryl Plecas
says the number of grow operations in this city dropped by 80 per
cent between 2004 and 2008.

"Statistics also suggest that while Surrey's EFSI Program has reduced
marijuana crimes and the associated public safety hazards in Surrey,
it may have to some degree displaced the problem to other
communities," Fire Chief Len Garis writes in a report presented to
council Monday. "It is also important to advocate for widespread,
collaborative approaches involving all communities and levels of
government to address this problem fully."