POLICE PREDICT BURNABY DRUGGIES WILL ADD TO PROBLEM

Mayor Philip Owen wants police to monitor the impact that closing Burnaby's
provincial courthouse will have on the city's already stretched police
resources.

Owen was responding to comments by Insp. Ken Frail, commander responsible
for the Downtown Eastside, that drug users and dealers from Burnaby whose
cases will now be heard in Vancouver will add to the area's problems.

Frail, speaking at last week's police board meeting, said there is no doubt
the increased workload at the Vancouver Provincial Court, 222 Main St.,
will cause headaches for cops. The courthouse is in the middle of the
Downtown Eastside, with an open drug market, prostitution and the sale of
stolen property occurring just a block away.

Frail said people in drug treatment or with drug problems are usually
highly stressed when they attend court and could easily be tempted to buy
drugs and remain in the area after their hearings.

"I see it as a massive problem and there's only so much we can do," Frail
said. "With Burnaby cases moving to Vancouver, it will import drug users
and we already have the drug dealers here."

Frail also predicted an increased workload for police, who will have to
spend more time in court waiting for cases to be heard because of
anticipated longer delays.

On Jan. 17, the provincial government announced the closure of 24
provincial courthouses as part of massive cuts to public services. The
Burnaby, Maple Ridge, Chilliwack and Delta courthouses are all slated to
close June 1.

Art Hargrove, administrative crown counsel for the Burnaby provincial
court, said the court's adult criminal files will be transferred to the 222
Main St. location, while youth matters, small claims, family and traffic
matters will be heard at the Robson Square Youth Court.

Hargrove said some of Burnaby court's victims support workers have already
been laid off and he expects the court's 10 prosecutors and nine support
staff will be transferred to Vancouver.

Burnaby mayor Doug Drummond has appealed to Attorney General Geoff Plant to
delay the closure of Burnaby's courthouse until the end of the year.
Drummond has already offered to allow the province to use the city-owned
courthouse for free and save $350,000.

"We want them to hold off so we can negotiate," said Drummond, who warns
the closure will increase the workload for Burnaby RCMP, who will have to
travel to the 222 Main St. location.

The government expects to save $2.1 million a year by closing the Burnaby
courthouse.

Owen has asked for report to the board on the impact of the closures.