CITY DEVELOPS WEAPON TO USE AGAINST GROW-OPS

Just one-third of the way through its three-month pilot project, the City
of Abbotsford has already busted 10 grow-ops and identified 12 through its
new Grow-Op Public Safety Pilot Project.

The city has never been afraid to take firm action in the face of criminal
problems, and this get-tough program is just another example. In recent
years there have been others. When a downtown apartment building devolved
into a crack shack, the city had it levelled.

When the violent problems at a downtown nightclub led to a fatal stabbing,
the city shut it down permanently. Now the city turns its attention to the
seemingly unsolvable issue of grow-ops, and is reporting some immediate
successes.

City officials use the powers at their disposal. Acting on complaints from
the public, they target homes thought to be grow-ops, and use
heat-detecting equipment to confirm suspicions. Only the police can bring
criminal charges against the occupants, but the city issues no-occupancy
orders on these unsafe buildings. That means nobody can live in them, until
they are brought 100 per cent into compliance with the building and fire codes.

They can cut off water to the building, making it tough for people or
marijuana plants to inhabit the building.

And, of course, they can make police aware of their findings.

The city has been receiving about two calls per day, with tips about
suspected grow-ops for inspectors. Obviously, members of the public view
grow-ops as bad for their neighborhoods.

The fact that every two or three days the city has been bringing down a
grow-op is an encouraging sign. The pilot project may be just one-third
complete, but barring a sudden downturn in the effectiveness of the
program, its safe to say the city has found a new weapon to fight serious
crime in Abbotsford. It was funded by a grant from the B.C. government,
which also deserves kudos for seeing this as a worthwhile measure. But as
the Grow-Op Public Safety plan becomes a permanent feature of local
enforcement, the fines and fees levied against offenders will serve to fund
its continuation.

This program is effective in identifying criminal operations, has been well
received by the public, and will cost nothing.

It could prove to be a model for the entire province.