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. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth