ALMOST 80 PER CENT BELIEVE DRUGS IN SCHOOL A PROBLEM

South Simcoe News Nottawasaga Opp Release Survey Results

According to a recent community survey, the majority of people living in
New Tecumseth, Essa and Adjala-Tosorontio feel safe in their community. The
Policing for Results Community Survey was recently completed for the
Nottawasaga OPP.

"It's a report card from the community," said Nottawasaga OPP Sgt. Dirk
Cockburn.

Out of 1,000 phone calls, 381 people completed the survey, rating the OPP
on their service and what their perception of the community is.

Cockburn and Insp. Lesley Rice were at the New Tecumseth council meeting
Monday night to present the results of the survey. Rice is now acting as
Nottawasaga OPP's detachment commander while Insp. Mark Allen has been
seconded for a three-month period.

On a scale of one to four, the majority of respondents said they feel safe
to very safe in the community.

"We're quite pleased," Rice said.

According to the report, public awareness about the toll-free line that can
be used in non-emergency situations has dropped from 51 per cent in 2002 to
32.9 per cent in 2004.

Cockburn said the OPP would be working on getting more information out to
the public to increase awareness.

The OPP uses the report to draft its annual business plan and to outline
categories police need to work on in the next year.

Rice said, based on survey responses, the communities the Nottawasaga OPP
serves are pleased with the visibility of officers.

Rice drew attention to the statistic where respondents said they had
noticed an increase in seatbelt safety and enforcement. According to the
report, the increased education has caused 55.7 per cent of people to
change their ways and become more proactive in seatbelt use.

Cockburn said one area the OPP has to work on is scaling back the amount of
false 911 calls, such as those dialed in error. He said the calls are time
and money expensive. Officers have to be dispatched to every call to ensure
there isn't a problem. Cockburn said that takes available officers away
from responding to real emergencies.

The survey took 11 weeks to complete. It will be delivered to every
household in the Nottawasaga OPP detachment area.