DRUG CRIMES ESCALATE

Cobourg Police Chief Wants A Dedicated Drug Unit On The Streets

COBOURG - The growth of Cobourg's drug culture is the starting point
in a domino effect leading to increases in crime, says police Chief
Garry Clement.

"Property and vehicle crimes go hand-in-hand with drug crimes," says
Chief Clement. "If you (a community) have a drug problem, your
property crimes will go up."

There was a 54 per cent increase in drug-related incidents Cobourg
police dealt with in 2003 compared to 2002, show statistics complied
by the service. Local police dealt with 50 cases of drug possession
last year compared to 35 in 2002. Chief Clement explains that even
though Cobourg police are part of the Kawartha Combined Forces Drug
Unit, which includes members of the Ontario Provincial, Peterborough
and Lakefield police services, the force needs, "a dedicated drug unit
on the streets," to effectively deal with drugs.

In Cobourg, there were 100 break and enters in 2003 compared to 49 in
2002 and incidents of mischief to property under $5,000 climbed to 114
compared to 79 in 2002. In Hamilton Township, break and enters reached
43 in 2003 compared to 18 in 2002 and incidents of property mischief
under $5,000 climbed to 21 last year from just seven in 2002.

A rise in the number of alarm calls Cobourg police responded to is
also an area of concern for Chief Clement. Alarm call responses jumped
to 388 in 2003 compared to 234 in 2002. Hamilton Township alarm calls
reached 125 last year compared to 67 in 2002.

"We have to do something in this area," says Chief Clement. "People
are taking things for granted."

Chief Clement's biggest fear is an accident occurring which may hurt
an officer or a citizen as police respond to an alarm call. Another
concern is that the amount of false alarm calls could possibly
contribute to a "lackadaisical" approach by an officer when a
legitimate call occurs, notes Chief Clement.

The Cobourg Police Services Board has passed an alarm bylaw,
recommended by Chief Clement, which will be sent to Cobourg council
for ratification. The bylaw, similar to one in Peterborough, carries a
$125 fine for a third false alarm recorded from the same home within
one year. The fewer officers responding to false alarms means there
will be more officers available for drug and traffic enforcement work.

"This is not a money grab," explained Chief Clement. "Alarm calls have
gone down in municipalities that have an alarm bylaw."

Motor vehicle collisions increased to 338 in 2003 from 194 in 2002 in
Cobourg. In Hamilton Township, motor vehicle collisions reached 136 in
2003 from 55 in 2002. Chief Clement believes this is another area
where more enforcement could help level off such large increases.

"The motor vehicle collisions are a reflection of the fact we are
getting more traffic through here," says Chief Clement.

"The only way to approach it is through a more concentrated
enforcement effort."