PRISONS TURNING ON 'SNITCH' LINE

If a con is hassling or pressuring you to smuggle drugs or weapons
into prison, you can now phone an anonymous tip line to inform
authorities.

Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) Pacific Region announced the
start of the new tip line last Tuesday.

It is the first region-wide tip line in the country, said Dennis
Finlay, CSC spokesman.

The fully automated toll-free number is 1-866-955-5550 and is linked
to all of the federal prisons in B.C., including Matsqui Institution,
Pacific Institution-Regional Treatment Centre, Mission Institution and
others.

"We want people to report any illegal activity that they may know
about, because, obviously, drugs and contraband are still getting
inside and we want to try to prevent it from happening," Finlay said.

"We hope anybody who is being pressured to smuggle drugs will give us
an anonymous call, as well as reporting any other illegal activities
they're aware of," he said.

The benefit of the tip line is to beef up security at the
institutions.

Illegal activities connected to drug use, trafficking and intimidation
may threaten the safety of people visiting, working or being housed in
a prison.

Abbotsford (Conservative) MP Randy White said he thinks the tip line
is a good idea.

"I know people are being coerced into smuggling drugs and doing other
things," White said.

"I sincerely hope that the people will use the tip line - and I
sincerely hope that CSC will keep their word and keep it anonymous,"
White said.

When people phone the tip line, the caller will be asked to select
from a list of institutions by pressing a number on the key pad.
Recorded messages will be kept to a minimum length.

"The tip line will be another tool in our arsenal to increase security
in our institutions," Finlay said.

Don Demers, Pacific Regional Deputy Commissioner, said CSC is
committed to the safety of staff, visitors and offenders.

"Part of that commitment includes gathering intelligence information
to prevent and stop illegal activities."

Meanwhile, people with information about offenders in the community
are asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or contact the
local parole office.