TOP COP CALLS FOR FED HELP

The province's police forces and other law enforcement agencies are doing
what they can to fight crime.

But the help they need isn't coming from Ottawa, says frustrated B.C.
Solicitor General Rich Coleman.

"You need to tell (the federal) judiciary, 'you're letting us down'"
Coleman said during an address to 125 members of the Surrey Chamber of
Commerce last week.

"They should be part of the solution, not the problem.

"The judicial system that is supposed to reflect the values of communities,
has to start to listen to the people in those communities."

Known as B.C.'s top cop, Coleman told the story of an RCMP officer who
picked up a suspected car thief who was subsequently released.

Two hours later, the same officer was in a high speed chase, pursuing the
same suspect in another stolen car.

"He had 30 convictions," Coleman said of the suspect. "The justice system
is letting us down."

Stiffer sentences for serious crimes do have an impact, Coleman said,
adding that the system is also failing in the fight against marijuana grow
operations and other aspects of the drug trade.

"In the Fraser Valley, there will be 2,000 to 3,000 grow-ops raided and
shut down this year," Coleman said.

"Right across the border in Whatcom County, they won't have 10. Why?

"In Washington state, they've raised the bar. Have a grow-op with more than
100 plants, it's an automatic five years in jail.

"For your first offence, it's three months in jail and they seize your assets.

"In B.C., you can be charged seven or eight times, and still not get
incarcerated."

Coleman is preparing legislation in this province that would allow
authorities to seize assets of suspected drug dealers. "If you have a
grow-op, the police arrive," he said.

"Then the next guys coming in are going to take your house, your car and
your bank account.

"Then you have to prove you bought them with legal money. The onus is on you."

Coleman finished the address by again urging communities to speak out
against a lax justice system.

"We give all the tools we can to our law enforcement officials. And we will
give them more," he said.

"But when the criminals come out the other end, we need the help of the
judiciary, we have to send a message."