Pubdate: Tue, 21 Dec 2004
Source: Powell River Peak (CN BC)
Copyright: 2004 Peak Publishing Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?brd=1998
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/734
Author: Isabelle Southcott
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?135 (Drug Education)

BOOK HELPS PEOPLE IDENTIFY DRUG HOUSES

Powell River RCMP have produced a new information guide to help the public 
recognize and report suspected drug houses.

RCMP Constable Carl McIntosh said the guide, "Reporting a Suspected Drug 
House," is free and is available to the public.

"This guide to recognition and reporting of suspected drug houses is easy 
to read and fill out and can be given to the RCMP anonymously," he told The 
Peak.

McIntosh said he hopes the guide will encourage the public to help police 
in their fight against ridding the area of drug houses.

"Public assistance is being sought by police in eradicating the negative 
impact that drugs and drug-related property crime cause with the immediate 
community and surrounding area," he said. "This gives us another tool to 
detect drug production facilities. Not only is it an enforcement tool, it's 
also a crime prevention initiative."

The guide deals with issues such as the volume of traffic attending a 
certain house and whether anything suspicious looks as though it is going 
on at a particular address.

"We believe it will allow people to have a say in their immediate 
neighbourhoods on the issue of drug production or cultivation," said McIntosh.

The guide is easy to fill out and doesn't take a great deal of time to 
complete.

It can be picked up at the Powell River RCMP detachment, or McIntosh said 
he is happy to deliver guides if requested.

"You do not have to supply your name," he said. "People can remain anonymous."

McIntosh said the completed guide can be dropped of at the local detachment 
or sent in by mail. 
- ---