TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS A TOP PRIORITY

New Challenges, New Initiatives For Regional Police

DURHAM - The number-one threat to public safety is not violent crime, but
something far more commonplace, says Durham Regional Police Chief Kevin
McAlpine. "In terms of bad news, the area where the majority of our
citizens get hurt is traffic accidents," said the chief during his
quarterly update to regional council Wednesday. "Our impact on fatalities
and collisions is not where we would like it to be," added the chief, who
says the force is targeting road safety as a priority.

While criminal driving offences in the first half of 2002 were down by 4.3
per cent to 985 compared with the first six months in 2001, that "has more
to do with the level of police availability out on the road than it has to
do with what's happening on the roads," the chief said.

And although criminal driving offence charges are down, more of us have
been on the receiving end of speeding tickets.

Police Services Board Chairman and Oshawa Councillor Bob Boychyn noted a
new traffic unit is on the road and the officers are "out in great force,
nabbing speeders on a regular basis. Sooner or later they'll reach your
municipality, your neighbourhood, so be careful." He added, "That's not a
threat, that's a fact."

Aside from traffic management, Durham police are also facing challenges
related to the region's significant and fast-paced growth, the chief said.

"Our calls for service - our fundamental workload - how we count how busy
we are, are up 8.2 per cent," Chief McAlpine said.

The force is working on a five-year plan, noted Coun. Boychyn, who said the
goal is to have "a more proactive, more stable delivery of police
services." Four key areas have been identified to be addressed within that
plan: regional growth, advancement of technological equipment, crime trends
and police employee requirements.

The chief noted in the first six months of 2002, compared to the same time
period in 2001:

Crimes of violence were down 3.9 per cent but there were still 2,173
victims;

Property crimes were up 6.7 per cent to 7,632 incidents;

Total criminal incidents were up 4.9 per cent to 18,511;

Provincial offence tickets were up 25.9 per cent to 79,783 issued;

Drug incidents were up 70.8 per cent to 801. Since November 2001, the
Durham Regional Police have closed down 104 drug homes and seized more than
$24.5 million in marijuana and growing paraphernalia.

Despite the crime statistics, Coun. Boychyn noted Durham residents should
feel confident in their police services and secure within their communities.

"Durham Region is in the top narrow band of the safest areas in this
country," he said.