COPS READY TO TAKE BACK PARKS

The nights of boozy parties and daytime dope-smoking summits in
Duncan-area parks are coming to an end, say police who are about to
crack down on the offenders.

Responding to citizen complaints, Duncan/North Cowichan police have
vowed to crack down on those who make Valley parks -- like Centennial
- -- an uncomfortable place to be.

"We do get a lot of complaints about the parks," said RCMP Const.
Susan Boyes. "But they're on par with complaints coming from a lot of
other open spaces."

Boyes said the lion's share of complaints are usually centred around
youths gathering in any particular place.

"We don't have a problem with kids who are just hanging out," she
said.

"The problem is sometimes those gatherings will branch out into
drinking and the participants becoming loud and many of the complaints
are about kids drinking or smoking drugs."

It's not only police who are getting the complaints, City Hall has
received its fair share too, said Duncan Mayor Phil Kent.

"There have been specific complaints about the problems at Centennial
Park," he said.

"The park is for the whole community to use and there is no issue with
legitimate users.

"But if what you're doing in the park negatively affects others, then
that's no good."

As a result, city council asked cops to do something about the
problem.

Police responded by assigning a two-member unit to concentrate on
Duncan-area "hotspots," said Boyes.

The plan involves police showing a high-profile presence on foot or
bike, just letting everyone in the neighbourhood know they're there.

But cops said they aren't out to make bust after bust -- though they
will if it becomes necessary -- but instead want to have more
interaction with all members of the affected communities.

It's a plan that has worked in the past, said Boyes.

"We did the same kind of thing last year in the North Zone because
Crofton and Chemainus had far too many nuisance calls," she said.

"Word got out pretty quickly we would be out there and had
zero-tolerance with alcohol and drugs."

The complaints dropped to exactly half of what they were because of
the patrols.

Three officers spent much time in the areas and found the
on-the-street program also afforded an approachability between police
and the citizenry that just isn't possible when cops are whizzing by
in cars.

"It created a familiarity and we built up a real rapport with the
youth because we were able to open lines of communication," said Boyes.

Police will begin their new patrols soon.