CRIME SURVEY TELLS COPS WHAT EVERYBODY KNOWS

Residents living in Vancouver's four policing districts say the drug
epidemic is the "most important crime-related problem" in the city,
according to a Vancouver Police Department-commissioned survey.

In the survey, which was conducted by NRG Research Group, 44 per cent
of 810 respondents cited the drug problem as their biggest concern.
Burglaries rated second with car theft, gang activity and aggressive
panhandling also in the mix.

Overall, 43 per cent of residents believe crime in general has
increased while only 12 per cent believe it has decreased, said the
survey, which goes before Vancouver Police Board today.

"As feelings of safety improve in a neighbourhood, communication and
media publicity of crimes in locations outside that neighbourhood may
lead residents in that neighbourhood to feel particularly safe in
that neighbourhood and assume that crime problems are worse than they
really are outside their area," the report said. "Also, the continued
media coverage of the drug-related problems in the Downtown Eastside
likely contributes to the perception of a rising city crime rate."

In fact, the Courier reported last year that crime dropped more than
30 per cent in four years in district two, which includes the
Downtown Eastside and much of the East Side out to the Pacific
National Exhibition grounds.

The VPD has difficulty promoting those gains, according to the
survey, which notes only 51 per cent of respondents feel the VPD is
"doing well when it comes to informing and communicating to the
public regarding major arrests, crime reduction projects, drug
crackdowns and crime prevention programs."

Respondents' satisfaction with the VPD's service was rated as 52 per
cent as "somewhat satisfied" and 28 per cent as "very satisfied." The
level of satisfaction increased in the downtown-West End and in the
southeast quadrant of the city.

It decreased in the southwest part of the city, which includes
Dunbar, from 84 per cent in 2004 to 77 per cent in 2006. The number
one reason cited was "police ineffective."

Rounding out the dissatisfaction across all policing districts
included slow response and service, issues left unresolved, thin
police staffing and the call for more police visibility in neighbourhoods.

While residents offered more than 20 recommendations to improve
services, the most common recommendation in each district was that
police have more presence.

All districts except for the Downtown Eastside area supported a
property tax increase to maintain or increase police services. At
least 70 per cent of residents said they would support an increase of
$25 per year. In the downtown-West End district, 58 per cent of
respondents were willing to shell out an additional $100 per year.

Over the past five years, the West End has seen a noticeable increase
in homelessness, panhandling and drug use. Theft from auto is also a
big problem.

In an accompanying business survey, which contacted 400 businesses,
34 per cent of respondents cite burglaries to homes and businesses as
the "most important crime-related problem" in their neighbourhood.