GREEN TEAM SWAMPED WITH POT BUST DUTY

Crime statistics from 2008 to 2009 were relatively consistent,
Inspector Kevin Hewco reported at meetings of two local councils this week.

"There's nothing surprising here to us," the North Cowichan/ Duncan
detachment commander told North Cowichan Council. "We do try to look
for trends."

The North Cowichan/ Duncan detachment commander spoke to Duncan City
Council on Monday and North Cowichan's council on Wednesday. Noting
there were no significant increases in any particular categories,
Hewco did say there are some areas he wants to focus on, in
particular, drug offences and property crimes such as graffiti.

The detachment executed 33 search warrants on marijuana grow
operations in 2009, with 17 of those falling in the final quarter of
the year as the "Green Team" went into operation for a six-week
period. If the police wanted to, they could focus almost entirely on
grow-ops, Hewco pointed out.

"We could entertain our detachment full-time," he said.

Many of the operations the police investigate turn out to be licensed
for medical marijuana, but to a man, each of the licensees is
exploiting the system.

"Without exception, every one that was licensed was growing far more
than it was licensed to grow," said Hewco. "It's simply a loophole
that's being taken advantage of."

Graffiti and similar property crimes are classified as mischief under
$5,000. North Cowichan recorded 549 such incidents in 2009, while
Duncan had 199. Both statistics were relatively close to their 2008
totals. Hewco wants to make reduction of those crimes a priority,
with school visits among his proposed methods.

Community policing in Chemainus and Crofton is also a priority, and
Hewco foresees involving members of the auxiliary constable program
in those communities when they are ready.