POLICE TO TARGET DRUG HOUSES

Help Needed | City Residents Asked To Provide Information

The Fredericton Police Force is looking to stamp out neighbourhood
drug houses.

But it says it can't do it without help from residents of the streets
and neighbourhoods affected by drug dens.

Staff Sgt. Brian Ford told the city's public safety and environment
committee Tuesday that unlike some cities, there are no typical drug
neighbourhoods in Fredericton.

But that doesn't mean drug operations aren't flying beneath police
radar and it often takes residents near drug houses to alert police,
he said.

Police are creating a complaint form and will protect the privacy of
individuals who call with their suspicions, Ford said.

"We have a responsibility and a legal obligation to keep that
information confidential," Ford said.

Typical signs of a drug-dealing operation include frequent pedestrian
or vehicle visitors to a residence where people only stay for a short
period of time, Ford said.

Windows may be blackened or covered with something and large amounts
of trash may be generated.

"Sometimes, you'll see people and you really don't know what they do
for a living, but they're driving big cars and they're coming and
going as they please," Ford said. "Those are some of the things we
need to look for."

There aren't necessarily more drug dealers peddling dope from
dwellings, but there are likely some who are doing so quietly enough
to escape police, but not necessarily neighbourhood, concern.

"There's a number of drug houses that have probably been flying under
the radar and there's maybe not enough information there to do a
(search) warrant on, or they're not reported because they may be more
of a nuisance," he said.

Police aren't asking citizens to become vigilantes.

The force is formalizing the reporting mechanism so that a phone call
or e-mail sent to police with information will be acknowledged, Ford
said.

"I like to believe there's strength in numbers and if you have one
drug house and 50 neighbours that want you out of there, I guess it
becomes a matter of where do you start.''

Police will inform landlords of their concerns about activities
consistent with a drug house.

"We want to work with that landlord and if it means evicting the
residents, we want to work with them towards that goal," Ford said.

Police also want to ensure that drug dealers don't just move from one
part of the city to another.

Ford said police are also aware that if they drive drug dealers out of
the city, they could be displacing them to rural areas.

That will mean increasing the information sharing and co-operation
with New Brunswick RCMP, who police rural parts of the province.

Local police are also planning to issue No Drugs signs with the phrase
encircled with a red stripe across the middle.

"It's a simple initiative. It indicates that there's no drugs at this
house,'' he said.

"If everyone has a sign on their house with the exception of the drug
house, it really is a way of disrupting the business itself because
people are looking to just sneak into the house and do their business
and leave, it's very similar to having a spotlight on their house.''

Ford said police divide drug houses into three categories: party
houses (low level), where minor drug activity may be involved;
mid-level, where the property is being used for drug dealing and is
generating high traffic; and high-level houses, which are often
fortified establishments where drugs labs are operating.

The emphasis in the plan is on low- and medium-level drug houses.