POLICE TO CRACK DOWN ON DRUG HOUSES

Ontario can crack down on crack houses by following the example
already set by other provinces.

And the police chief in Lindsay and Ops Township and the police
services board recommend that the Province adopt similar legislation
to Manitoba's Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act to combat the
drug trade.

"It deals with suspected grow ops, crack houses and those kinds of
things," said Kawartha Lakes Police Chief John Hagarty.

The Act targets the owners and landlords through civil, as opposed to
criminal, courts.

In Manitoba, the Public Safety Investigation Unit (PSIU), which is a
branch of Manitoba Justice, investigates complaints.

"During the course of the investigation, we have to prove the Act is
habitual and is adversely affecting the community," said PSIU manager
Al Cameron.

The unit does that by conducting surveillance, for three days at the
minimum. If they find evidence of drugs, prostitution, illegal liquor
sales, illegal weapons or sexual abuse or exploitation of children,
the house or apartment would be ordered closed.

"The difference is it's putting an onus on the owner of the property
and attaching civil action," said Chief Hagarty. "Before, the owner
of the property was immune from any responsibility in relation to the home."

Mr. Cameron said most cases are resolved informally.

"Our preferred resolution is to approach the owner of the property
and offer them the opportunity to work with us."

He recalls only one case where the unit had to get a court order to
close the house.

"That's because the owner was the person operating the crack house,"
he said. "That particular crack house had been operating for over 10
years and had been the scene of hundreds and hundreds of police raids."

It was also the scene of drive-by shootings, street fights and other
general mayhem that surrounds that type of establishment.

Chief Hagarty said local police have a good strategy for drug
enforcement and the legislation would be an extra tool.

"We'll go in with a search warrant, kick the door in, arrest a couple
of people and they're back in business within days of when the
warrant was executed and charges are laid."

That's because it often doesn't take long for drug offenders to be
released after an arrest or for their companions to set up shop.

"We've shut down drug houses, but they continue to pop up. As long as
the demand is there, there'll continue to be supply."

And it's not just limited to crack.

"It could be cocaine, it could be crack. Sometimes they're moving
marijuana or ecstasy or OxyContin, so it's a drug house."

The PSIU in Manitoba is funded entirely by the Province at about
$800,000 per year. The investigators are former Winnipeg police and
RCMP officers.

As a result of their investigations, there have been over a hundred
arrests and seizures of drugs and weapons. The unit works in
conjunction with the police, fire and health departments.

"I think what it shows us is that the Act is working, there's more
public complaints year after year," said Mr. Cameron. "More and more
people are taking advantage of the legislation."

He sees an increasing number of complaints, almost 1,400 so far, as a
sign that the legislation works.

"When we shut down a high-profile operation, people see that it
works. If it worked on that street, it'll work on mine. If it doesn't
work, people don't use it."

Since Manitoba implemented the Act, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia and the
Yukon have done so as well.

Mr. Cameron will be travelling to Newfoundland this week to talk
about the program.

"The fact that it's spreading across Canada tells you it's working," he said.

The City of Kawartha Lakes heard about the program through Ottawa,
which has endorsed similar legislation after public consultation.

Ward 12 Coun. Gord James, who sits on the police services board, will
bring the issue to council next week.

"Crack houses are a huge issue in all communities, not just the City
of Kawartha Lakes," said Coun. James.

Although any new legislation would have to come from the Province,
Coun. James thinks endorsements from municipalities helps.

"We can support it and bring public pressure."

He commends the chief of police for the work he's done on the issue so far.

"Chief Hagarty deserves credit for this. He's the one who drew up the
resolution, along with the police services board."

The chief said the legislation would help landlords as well as the police.

"We're not blaming all property owners and landlords. This should
give them a potential tool as well to get rid of bad tenants."

Meanwhile, the chief said citizens need to keep reporting suspicious
activity to the police, but they also need to understand that they
need more than a tip.

"What people need to realize is we need a significant amount of
information. Simply saying, we think that house is a drug house,
isn't enough to get us a warrant."

To get a warrant, the police need evidence like a visual confirmation
of a drug deal, licence plates of known criminals. Or perhaps a
drug-related arrest outside of the home, statements from people who
bought drugs or purchases by undercover officers.

Mr. Cameron is clear that the issue won't solve the issue of drugs completely.

"We don't pretend it's a silver bullet, an answer to all the problems
society faces, but it's a piece of the puzzle, a tool that can be
used by communities to take and active hand in taking back their
streets and neighbourhoods and communities."