PITT WEEDING OUT GROW-OPS

Pitt Meadows has seen a small increase in the number of marijuana grow
operations in the past two years, despite introducing a Public Safety
Inspection Program to weed them out.

However, the number of electrical safety inspections in the same span
dropped by more than 80 per cent.

There were three confirmed grow-ops in 2007, six in 2008 and six so far
this year, including one last weekend, according to Ridge Meadows RCMP.

Police attended to an additional nine reported grow-ops in 2007 and three
in 2008 with the safety inspection team.

Those searches turned up negative, though.

"The number of reported cases are right down in Pitt Meadows," said Supt.
Dave Walsh.

"I know it's very effective in resolving cases where we as police don't
have sufficient evidence to proceed to a search warrant," he said the
safety inspection program.

"It's able to bring a fairly quick resolution to a file that would
probably have taken a lot longer to solve."

The number of house inspections has also declined since the program was
launched two years ago. The inspection team visited 38 homes in 2007,
followed by 12 in 2008. So far this year, bylaw officer Lesley Elchuck
says six homes have been inspected and none of them have discovered
grow-ops.

Under the electrical safety inspection program, the city can conduct
inspections on residences with abnormally high energy usage, based on
information provided by B.C. Hydro.

Occupants are given 24 hours notice before a bylaw officer, electrical
inspector, fire personnel and members of the RCMP search the premises. The
property owner is fined $3,000 if evidence of a grow-op is found.

"If it was a grow-op, it's typically gone and removed by the time we get
there," said Elchuck.

However, she says the program is purely focused on public safety rather
than seeking criminal charges. Police attend inspections to ensure the
safety of the team.

High electricity consumption is a fire hazard as it can cause wires to
fatigue, Elchuck added, putting neighbours at risk.

The electrical safety inspection program was modelled after similar
programs in Surrey and Abbotsford. The legal basis for the program was
provided by Surrey Fire Chief Len Garris, formerly head of the Pitt
Meadows fire department. The City of Surrey recently announced an 81 per
cent reduction in the number of grow-ops as a result of their program,
which was introduced in 2005.

Ridge Meadows RCMP seized 1,730 marijuana plants from a home in the
Somerset subdivision behind Meadowtown Centre in Pitt Meadows on Sunday. A
53-year-old man and 50-year-old woman were arrested at the residence, in
the 1200 block of Chestnut Crescent.

The RCMP have recommended charges against both of them for production of a
controlled substance and possession for the purpose of trafficking. Their
first court appearance is on Dec. 14.