Pubdate: Thu, 24 Nov 2005 Source: Mission City Record (CN BC) Copyright: 2005 The Mission City Record Contact: http://www.missioncityrecord.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1305 Author: Trudy Beyak PRISONS TURNING ON 'SNITCH' LINE If a con is hassling or pressuring you to smuggle drugs or weapons into prison, you can now phone an anonymous tip line to inform authorities. Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) Pacific Region announced the start of the new tip line last Tuesday. It is the first region-wide tip line in the country, said Dennis Finlay, CSC spokesman. The fully automated toll-free number is 1-866-955-5550 and is linked to all of the federal prisons in B.C., including Matsqui Institution, Pacific Institution-Regional Treatment Centre, Mission Institution and others. "We want people to report any illegal activity that they may know about, because, obviously, drugs and contraband are still getting inside and we want to try to prevent it from happening," Finlay said. "We hope anybody who is being pressured to smuggle drugs will give us an anonymous call, as well as reporting any other illegal activities they're aware of," he said. The benefit of the tip line is to beef up security at the institutions. Illegal activities connected to drug use, trafficking and intimidation may threaten the safety of people visiting, working or being housed in a prison. Abbotsford (Conservative) MP Randy White said he thinks the tip line is a good idea. "I know people are being coerced into smuggling drugs and doing other things," White said. "I sincerely hope that the people will use the tip line - and I sincerely hope that CSC will keep their word and keep it anonymous," White said. When people phone the tip line, the caller will be asked to select from a list of institutions by pressing a number on the key pad. Recorded messages will be kept to a minimum length. "The tip line will be another tool in our arsenal to increase security in our institutions," Finlay said. Don Demers, Pacific Regional Deputy Commissioner, said CSC is committed to the safety of staff, visitors and offenders. "Part of that commitment includes gathering intelligence information to prevent and stop illegal activities." Meanwhile, people with information about offenders in the community are asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or contact the local parole office. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin