Pubdate: Wed, 29 Nov 2000 Source: Peace River Block Daily News (Canada) Contact: 901 - 100th Ave., Dawson Creek, B.C. V1G 1W2 Fax: (250) 782-6770 Website: http://www.sterlingnews.com/Peace/ Author: Mark Nielsen COMMUNITY ATTACKS DRUGS IN SCHOOLS The heat is about to be turned up on those who sell drugs near schools. School District 59 has partnered with the RCMP, the City of Dawson Creek, Crime Stoppers, and the South Peace Crime Prevention Association to create drug free zones around many local schools. " The purpose of the partnership is to send a clear message from the community to the drug dealers that such activity does not belong in or near our schools," said district principal Rob Dennis. Schools will have an area of protection that extends at least two blocks beyond the school properties, with signs posted to mark the zones' boundaries. Beginning immediately, three large drug free zones have been set out in the city and special rules apply to drug offences that occur within the zones. These rules will be as follows: - - Schools have developed a district-wide zero tolerance response plan for students who are involved or are suspected to be involved in illegal drug activities. - - Students who are engaged in illegal drug activities will automatically have the RCMP involved. - - The RCMP will respond to drug offense calls with a high priority and where charges are laid, Crown counsel will be notified that the offence was committed within the drug free zone. - - Crown counsel will also be notified when others in the community are charged with drug offenses within the drug free zones. - - Crown counsel has agreed to make the information known in court proceedings when an offence has occurred in an area that was within a drug free zone and to request an extended penalty. - - Judges have indicated their support for this initiative. Much of this new initiative involves an escalated partnership by the RCMP and school administrators to deal with illegal drug activities. The community can expect a toughening of the penalties by both the schools and the judicial system to drug offences within the drug free zones. Cooperation and the constant sharing of information will occur to secure arrests of those who wish to be in the business of selling drugs to our children. "We wish to send a message that is loud and clear to our children that our full community supports their health choices and that all schools will have a drug-free environment," said school district superintendent Charlie Parslow. - --- MAP posted-by: Don Beck