POLICE NEED HELP FROM FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO FIGHT CRIME

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. "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," said Coleman of the suspect. "The justice system
is letting us down."

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

"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. 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."