BUSINESS BREAK-INS UP SIGNIFICANTLY IN 2003

Increased stats in some categories nothing to panic over: RCMP

In an unusual move, S/Sgt. Cliff Doherty and Sgt. Colin Worth met with
Squamish Council this week and gave council an update on police operations.

The RCMP appearance before council was triggered by a letter of complaint
that was sent to Premier Gordon Campbell and copied to Mayor Ian Sutherland
and the RCMP.

The letter was written by a downtown resident shaken by an incident that
happened in the early morning hours of Sunday (Jan. 18).

According to Worth, the complainant was awakened when a drunken young female
entered her home. The homeowner confronted the drunk and asked her to leave.

The unidentified letter writer indicated that the police arrived quickly and
located the young woman in a nearby alley.

Worth said the letter started off complimentary, but did not maintain that
tone throughout.

"We are not turning a blind eye to our problems in Squamish and we are very
concerned about the trends we are seeing, particularly in the downtown
core," Worth told council. "As a detachment of the RCMP all of us reside
here in the community so it very much is a problem for us as residents of
the community."

Worth explained that there is a perception that crime is up when in fact he
said that crime statistics for 2003 indicate that, overall, crime is down
compared to 2002.

"What is up are property crimes, substantially," he said.

Worth said much of the increase can be linked to people who are looking for
easy cash to support a drug habit.

He explained to council that marijuana charges are down compared to last
year. The stats are down because the police aren't enforcing the laws as
strictly. Recent court decisions on marijuana cases make it more difficult
to prosecute marijuana cases.

"While marijuana charges are down, cocaine charges are up," Worth said. The
number of cocaine possession charges went from eight in 2002 up to 14 in
2003. The number of cocaine trafficking charges also went up over the
12-month period.

Charges relating to the possession of crystal meth jumped from just one in
2002 up to 19 in 2003.

Worth reported that the RCMP in Squamish dealt with an increased number of
child welfare matters and mental health files in the year just past.

Part of the reason property and drug related statistics are up relates to
unemployment and a reduction in government services, Worth said. He and
Doherty specifically pointed to the closure of the courthouse in Squamish
and the closure of the provincial social assistance office.

In an attempt to address policing issues in Squamish, Worth said the police
have a number of initiatives and programs.

"The civilian crime prevention officer hired by council is working to bring
a downtown storefront police operation," Worth said. "We submitted a
proposal through the provincial government for two more members and will
make a request of council soon."

The detachment is also working on a coordinated crime prevention strategy.

The mayor said the letter led to the RCMP being placed on the meeting
agenda; however Squamish's top lawmaker cautioned that Squamish isn't the
only town around dealing with crime issues.

"We don't want to panic," Sutherland said. "We don't want headlines blazing
that Squamish is the new crime capital of Canada and that it isn't safe to
walk on Cleveland Avenue after dark.

"We are working on solutions. I think a downtown storefront is an excellent
step."

Coun. Dave Fenn asked if the problems are being caused more by local
residents or transients. "Six to eight months ago, lots of new people moved
to our community," Doherty said. "There's a lack of social housing and a
lack of welfare. They brought with them an increase in property crime and
that is why we are seeing a spike right now."

"This community needs to mobilize against this problem," Worth said.

Sutherland indicated that one step being looked at is the creation of a
recreation facility under RCMP control at the new detachment building, which
is going to be ready for occupancy in mid-March.