PROBLEMS SHOULD BE SOLVED, NOT MOVED

How About Naming The Next One Operation Get Real?

Few would argue with the political points to be scored by starting up
crime-fighting initiatives such as Operation Clean Sweep, Operation
Extricate and Operation Exodus - especially during civic election time.

But without an election in sight, the politicians should have ample
time to consider the long-term application of some of these fancy
projects initiated to rid any given neighbourhood of crime. Since well
before Surrey's current mayor sat in the big chair, police and civic
politicians have been launching programs to remove prostitutes, drug
dealers and others of that ilk from the Whalley strip, local motels,
Guildford, Cedar Hills, Newton and even Scott Road.

But such projects have the effect of a squeezed water balloon - press
down on one end, and the matter moves somewhere else; other parts of
Surrey, across the Pattullo Bridge or wherever.

We certainly can't fault the police or civic politicians for trying to
clean up the streets. Hey, it's part of their job.

But they won't truly succeed at solving our problems without the
co-ordination and assistance of other levels of government, applicable
agencies, merchants and residents, and last but certainly not least,
the courts.

The courts, after all, are supposed to serve the people. By failing to
mete out punishment - yes, punishment - to serial offenders, the
courts aren't doing anyone a favour, except maybe neighbourhood wreckers.