PARENTS TAKING BACK STREETS

West Enders plan to launch patrols around downtown schools in the next few
months in an attempt to drive away criminals.

Sheryl Williamson-Harms, chair of the West End Citizens' Action Network, one
of the groups backing the initiative, said area residents can't sit back and
wait for police to handle problems like panhandling, drug abuse and dealing,
and prostitution, especially around Nelson Park.

"This is a chance to show city council, to show the provincial government
and to show the Vancouver Police Department that we're committed to make
this a more safe and livable community."

Some residents complain the crackdown in the Downtown Eastside has driven
even more criminal activity near their homes and schools.

The West End Citizens' Action Network formed about a year ago to address
crime and safety concerns, joining forces with MLA Lorne Mayencourt and the
police department.

Although details have yet to be worked out, safety patrols are expected to
be concentrated around Lord Roberts Elementary, Lord Roberts Annex and King
George Secondary, before school, during lunch hour and after school.

The annex is of particular concern because students often walk along Davie
and Bute, a hotbed of criminal activity.

Williamson-Harms, who runs an insurance brokerage downtown, would like to
see patrols continue through the summer months, since children spend a lot
of time outside.

Last year, she said, her daughter asked to be picked up at school after
witnessing a drug deal behind their apartment building on the way home from
classes.

"As an adult, you tend to become callous, to turn a blind eye to it, you
begin to expect it," she said. "But to a child, it's deeply disturbing. I
would really hate to see the day that our six and eight and 10-year-olds
become as hardened to it as some of the adult community has been-as
accepting and unaware or unconcerned about it. That's a disturbing trend."

The network hopes to drop safety patrol sign-up sheets at the schools and
Gordon Neighbourhood House after the March break.

Volunteers will also be able to register on the network's web site at
www.westendcan.com, once firmer plans are in place.

Police plan to help train the patrollers, said Insp. Val Harrison, who heads
up District One, covering the downtown region.

Residents who sign onto the citizen patrols will be taught what they should
and shouldn't do, including how to avoid confrontations and make
observations useful to police. They would wear reflective gear and carry
cell phones to call 911 when required.

"Simply their presence in numbers can have a dampening effect on the
activities of people who are undesirable," Harrison said.

"Why should children have to walk through drug dealers and drug needles?
That's shocking.

"Patrolling the area and trying to get that kind of behaviour away from
schools makes sense."

Harrison said the department doesn't have enough resources to focus solely
around schools, despite the need.

Ian Cannon, principal at Lord Roberts Annex, supports the initiative.

"If the neighbours can put out the message that certain behaviours are not
accepted close to schools and where they're living, it may be the start of a
positive solution."

Mayencourt compares the patrols to the Shame the Johns campaign of the
1980s, which pushed johns and prostitutes out of the West End.

"No kid should have to be worried about finding a needle on the playground
or inhale smoke from a crack pipe because they're leaning against a fence."