ENFORCEMENT RESPONSIBILITY LIES WITH THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY

HANOVER -- "What we know and what we can do are two separate issues."
South Bruce OPP Constable John Kummer echoes the frustration of other
area law enforcers, as he points out the problem with enforcing the
law when it comes to methamphetamines. "We can have all the
suspicions, but without the evidence, there's not much we can do."

The common refrain when talking about methamphetamines in local
communities -- and across North America -- is this: What are the
police doing about it?

The police are very aware of the problem locally, and are working
hard to combat methamphetamines. But it's not easy. Hanover Police
Chief Tracy David explains that unless the police know that a drug is
in a residence, they can't do anything. What is needed is a search
warrant. To get a search warrant requires sufficient evidence. And a
warrant takes hours to get.

Brett Mailloux, unit commander with the OPP's drug enforcement
section in the western region, explains that police can only operate
within the confines of the law. "It's difficult to get arrest
warrants and make arrests," he says. "It's not like other crimes,
where a crime has occurred and you go and gather evidence. With
drugs, you have to get the evidence by being there when the offence
occurs. It's time consuming and it involves a lot of resources."

The sentencing for individuals charged with possession of
methamphetamines is light, adds David. Possession is usually a fine,
while a breach charge (breach of probation or conditions of release)
carries more weight in the courts.

Mailloux says education is needed all around, from the police to
parents and educators, to the courts. Mailloux often appears in court
as an expert witness to educate the courts about the drug.

The evidence of methamphetamine use is in our communities. Police
services have noted the increase in violence, break-and-enters,
robberies, domestic violence and more. Kummer says there have been
recent robberies involving meth in the area, and an increase in
domestic disputes.

In fact, according to South Bruce OPP, so far this year, 150 people
have been charged with criminal offences, and of those, 40 are
suspected methamphetamine abusers.

Acting Detective Sergeant Chris Knoll, who works with the OPP Bruce
County Crime Unit, says a couple of methamphetamine labs have been
discovered locally in the past couple of years, including one in the
trunk of a car and one in an apartment.

A meth lab was discovered in Teeswater last year, and two local
people were charged.

Knoll and David both indicate an increase in possession charges and
domestic violence, as well as assault with bodily harm. Car hopping
has also been increasing -- that is, going from car to car at night,
taking loose change. Good advice is for people to lock their cars, they say.

There have also been robbery offences this year, where perpetrators
have gone into a house and demanded cash, Knoll says.

He points out that the bank robbery in Chesley at the beginning of
this year came down to methamphetamines. "They needed money to get
meth, it came out in the investigation," Knoll says. "There had been
a previous robbery in Owen Sound, and the stolen vehicle was
discovered, dumped in Allenford. When the robbery in Chesley
happened, we sent officers to Allenford from Chesley, and found the
stolen vehicle." The accused were found shortly after that, and were
recently convicted in court.

"Robberies are out of the norm here, but we're seeing major break-ins
and thefts, and we're finding that these individuals want stolen
property to turn it into cash for meth," Knoll says. He adds that
people arrested for vehicle thefts and break-ins have admitted, once
caught, that they did it to get methamphetamines.

Education is the key -- education for the community and for the police.

"Police are becoming more knowledgeable about what to look for,"
Kummer says. That includes knowing the ingredients of
methamphetamines. Pseudoephedrine, available over the counter in many
cold medications, is a key ingredient in making methamphetamine. So
is the lithium from batteries. A person found in possession of large
quantities of either cold medication or batteries, while not illegal,
is suspicious to police.

The drug culture makes it difficult to get enough information to make
an arrest, Mailloux points out. "We need to educate the community so
that they know when they see a crime committed, they must contact
police. The biggest hurdle is getting information -- the user doesn't
want to co-operate and turn in the supplier, because they won't be
able to get more meth."

Says Mailloux, the community needs to be aware of the signs of
illegal behaviour. "If neighbours see a lot of late-night activity or
strange materials being taken in and out of a house, such as four or
five propane tanks and they have no barbecue, or an excess amount of
engine starter fluid, or cases of cold medication . . . also cases of
lithium batteries, or pails filled with chemical contents around the
property, and strong chemical smells . . . they need to call the
police and report it."

As well, anyone who finds themselves in a violent situation with a
person suspected of being under the influence of methamphetamines
should call the police.

The solution, Mailloux says, is three-fold. First, education.
Education of schools, medical staff, courts, emergency measures
officers. Second is street level enforcement, catching users and
small-time dealers. And third is the criminal organizations, taking
down illegal networks for the distribution of methamphetamines,
including manufacturers and smugglers.

The problem with methamphetamines is, indeed, affecting the
community. "Any time drugs start to affect the community, it's a
problem," Shaidle says. "This is not a problem that is unique to this area."

Adds Kummer: "The kids who are on meth are part of the community.
Some people think it's an education problem, or an enforcement
problem, or a parenting problem. We all have to deal with it together."