DEALERS ON THEIR WAY?

New Westminster police say they must be on guard to prevent another
flare-up of drug crime in the Royal City.

The New Westminster Police Service is concerned that crackdowns in other
areas of the Lower Mainland may have an impact here.

Both Vancouver and Surrey are undertaking new campaigns to combat drugs and
street crime.

"Any time you put pressure on one area of the Lower Mainland, it tends to
get displaced," said Insp. Frank Ciaccia, manager of the criminal
investigations division of the New Westminster police, at the March 18
police board meeting. "We're right in the middle. With pressure from both
sides, it may end up here in New Westminster."

Ciaccia said police have been vigilant on the issue, keeping their eyes
open for problems on the streets and riding SkyTrain.

"We haven't seen a flurry yet," he said.

But he warned that, because Vancouver's campaign is just getting started,
it may take a couple months for the full effects to be felt in New Westminster.

Insp. Dave Jones, manager of the patrol division, said officers are meeting
with SkyTrain officials to discuss the issue and to ensure that SkyTrain
security staff are on the lookout for trouble.

He said SkyTrain was a great help to New Westminster police during its drug
crackdown campaign in 1997-98, assisting in cleaning up the SkyTrain stations.

"They've always been a very receptive group to help out," Jones said.

Deputy Chief Const. Mike Judd said the department continues to discuss a
drug strategy for the city.

"We are of course very mindful of what's going on in Vancouver with the
four pillars approach," he said.

The 'four pillars' of the strategy are awareness and education, prevention,
treatment and harm reduction.

It's the latter - which includes Vancouver's controversial decision to open
a safe injection site for addicts - that the local department has an issue.

"The chief is quite comfortable with three of those pillars," Judd said.