Pubdate: Wed, 22 Jun 2005
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 The Province
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouver/theprovince/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: Kent Spencer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

SURREY FIREFIGHTERS FIGHT GROW-OPS WITH SAFETY INSPECTIONS

Police Had Fewer Busts -- Even Using More Money And More Officers

Surrey firefighters have discovered that their pens are mightier than RCMP 
swords when it comes to fighting grow-ops.

They shut down 118 marijuana-growing operations during a three-month 
project that ended June 3 by simply leaving notes that they'd be back in 
two days to conduct electrical-safety inspections.

That compared to the 75 grow-ops the RCMP shut down during the same period.

And the firefighters were more cost-effective, using five men and $121,848 
for the project compared to the RCMP's seven-person team costing $198,493.

"We know the process is valid," Surrey Fire Chief Len Garis said yesterday. 
"It has a high success rate. High consumption allows us to take action 
based on a suspicion of electrical hazards.

"There was a 94-per-cent success rate."

The fire department's strategy worked liked this:

- - First, using tips from police, firefighters drove by to see if there was 
a legitimate reason for high power consumption at a suspicious property, 
such as extra buildings or a pool.

- - If a potential grow-op was identified, records were requested from B.C. 
Hydro through freedom of information.

- - When a location was chosen, firefighters knocked on the door to request 
an electrical inspection.

"Usually no one answers," said Garis, adding that firefighters then left a 
notice demanding access to the building within 48 hours or the power would 
be shut off.

The firefighters' next visit was usually by appointment with a willing 
tenant or owner -- but the grow-op was gone, even if evidence such as the 
skunky smell of pot, soil and holes in the walls, remained.

"The fire-inspection initiative offers a complement -- not a replacement -- 
to the existing criminal system," said Garis.

 From 1997 to 2003, 419 fires occurred at indoor grow-ops in B.C., 
according to a University College of the Fraser Valley study by Darryl Plecas.

Grow-ops were estimated to bring $2 billion into criminals' coffers in B.C. 
last year, according to a study by the Fraser Institute.

Garis said his department's procedure is more effective and simpler than a 
criminal process using search warrants, arrests and the courts.

Police attended the inspections, but did not make arrests because they were 
administrative, not criminal searches. Follow-up work was also done to 
ensure the grow-ops didn't return.

Surrey will keep funding the project, said Mayor Doug McCallum, noting 
"this sends a message that we are not going to put up with grow operations."

Richmond, the North Shore municipalities, Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam are 
considering similar strategies.
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MAP posted-by: Beth