WE WON'T TOLERATE ILLEGAL DRUG TRADE

There has been much discussion lately concerning the level of small
crime in certain areas of Penticton.

In order to combat this wave of crime, we must first look at the cause
of the problem and then deal with those causes.

I (think) the RCMP and social workers in this area will agree that
this type of crime is directly related to the level of drug abuse in
the city.

These criminals (may be) drug addicts looking for the easiest thing to
steal and turn it into enough cash for their next fix.

To reduce the level of small crime, we must react to the hard drug
trade within our city. Unfortunately, the RCMP does not have the
manpower and budget to carry out expensive sting operations on small
drug dealers and the court system passes sentences on the dealers that
are considered little more than a business expense to the dealers.

As a society, we must be prepared to act and give our elected
representatives in council and the provincial government the direction
to deal with this situation.

My suggestions are as follows:

- - Increase the business license cost to the pawnbrokers and small
money lending institutions. These businesses (can be a) tool for
turning the stolen goods into cash for drugs. My understanding is that
they cannot be barred from doing business but high license costs will
make them think twice about being here;

- - Extend a budget to the RCMP for drug enforcement
operations.

As concerned citizens we must lobby our politicians to send a direct
and forceful message to the justice system that we are not prepared to
tolerate this trade in illegal drugs, so that sentences passed onto
the dealers will justify not only the crime but also the cost of the
police operations to bring them to justice.

As a society we must instigate a system of drug rehabilitation that is
more effective than the current "Band-aid" solutions being used. Such
programmes do not come cheap, but compared to the cost of the
alternative on us a society (and also the insurance rates as a result
from the claims arising from these crimes) then I think it will prove
to be money well spent.

Julius Bloomfield

Penticton