DEFEATING CRIME DOWNTOWN

Downtown Abbotsford business owners are hoping the new Abbotsford
Police beat team doesn't give up its day job after noticing an upsurge
in fortunes since foot patrols began in the area four weeks ago.

Cracking down on drug dealers and abusers, prostitutes, pimps and
johns, defusing armed confrontations and dealing with drunken
difficulties in local clubs and bars are all on the nightly agenda for
the five-strong team.

But its role includes an added social side as the team pounds the
streets by day, meeting shopkeepers and other business people while
keeping daytime trouble to a minimum.

"We have had a good response," said Const. Rick Potter.

"We have been trying to go round and walk into all the businesses.
They all wave to us and seem to appreciate what we are doing.

"The merchants down here are pleased. People are stopping us and
saying that they are happy to see us working here.

"It is better to have a cop walking around that knows everybody. That
is pretty much what it is all about - building up trust so people
approach you."

Mary Reeves, executive director of the Abbotsford Downtown Business
Association, confirmed the team is having an impact.

"What we have noticed with the increased police presence is that it
has brought renewed energy and courage to business owners," she said.

"They have been out there and that is an important aspect - the
improvement to public safety."

Reeves hopes the police scheme is just the start of a longer-term plan
to improve the area.

"The clean-up is going to take some time. It has taken a long time to
get to this stage and it is not going to turn-around overnight, but it
is going to happen.

"There is a real commitment throughout the community to do this." As
night falls, the team encounters a new set of hurdles as prostitutes
and drug dealers venture from their daylight haunts.

But even though Potter admits to it taking time, he believes the team
is inspiring positive changes.

"We are really starting to put a lot more pressure on criminal
activity and making it hard for them to do business. This must be a
sign that we are accomplishing what we are trying to do."