DRUGS CRANK COBOURG CRIME RATE: CHIEF

Local News - Crimes, including break ins, theft and property damage, have
skyrocketed in Cobourg due to the increased drug trade, says Police Chief
Garry Clement.

"They all relate to a serious drug crime (climate)," he said in an interview
yesterday.

Break and enters doubled to 100 in the period between January to September
last year in Cobourg compared to the previous year, while theft of goods
under $5,000 increased to 258 occurrences compared to 188 the year before.

In neighbouring Hamilton Township there were 43 break-and-enters compared to
13 in the period under comparison. And theft of goods under $5,000 more than
doubled to 47 occurrences.

These stats are up because criminals are looking for ways to make money to
purchase drugs, says the Chief.

That's one of the reasons he is asking Cobourg council to hire another
officer in this year's general policing budget and for Hamilton Township
council to pay through its policing contract with the town, monies to hire
another two officers.

With these increased resources a street drug team can be put in place, he
says.

"Over the past year I have worked with Rebound Youth Services that has
provided me an opportunity to speak frankly with the youth in Northumberland
County.

"It has become abundantly clear we have a pharmacy of drugs on our streets,
ranging from heroin to cocaine, to ecstasy and other chemical drugs and
marijuana," states the Chief in a report.

"With increased drug usage comes increased thefts, break and enters,
robberies and prostitution."

In fact last week the local police raided the town's first bawdy house and
laid charges with more expected to come.

"To stem this tide," continues the report, "we need to take decisive
enforcement action through a dedicated drug program."

Chief Clement warns that if action isn't taken there will be a further rise
in crime and addiction - and an additional increase in policing costs.

When examining the occurrences directly involving drugs through the period
of January to September last year compared to 2002, however, the statistics
are low. There were 15 more occurrences of possession than a year earlier;50
between January to September of 2003 versus 2002 and just three occurrences
of trafficking compared to none in the same period year-over-year.

There was also only one case of production of drugs compared to none
previously.

Members of the Cobourg Police Services Board will receive the entire
statistical report at this week's meeting.

It indicates a whopping increase of 48.6 per cent in "8000 series of
offences" which have the common feature of being time-consuming,
police-to-people interactions. This crime category is very broad and
includes everything from trouble with youth in Cobourg (130 occurrences up
from 115); 911 call/hang ups (73 up from 17); police assists and information
(599 up from 282); and alarms (388 up from 234).

This broad category of crimes has seen an even greater increase in Hamilton
Township where the overall figure is up 55 per cent during the same period a
year ago, notes the Chief.

The final quarter stats are being prepared now but Chief Clement says he
does not expect the calendar year comparisons to be any different because
the final three months of the year are traditionally very busy.