Pubdate: Mon, 26 Nov 2007 Source: Packet & Times (CN ON) Copyright: 2007 Osprey Media Group Inc. Contact: http://www.orilliapacket.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2397 EXAMINE THE ROLE OF LANDLORDS Here's an idea: why don't police start charging hotel owners and slum landlords when they knowingly allow crack houses to flourish? The concept is fraught with legal difficulties, to be sure. And such moves must be examined from every angle. It may be that any enabling laws have far-reaching, unintended consequences. The idea raises all sorts of side questions. And frankly, newspapers, like phone companies and Internet providers, may find themselves in rough seas on this one, particularly when it comes to the difficulties inherent in handling some classified ads. But with police struggling to fight the proliferation of crack and other drugs, it may be time to get tougher with the enablers of the trade. A crack house was raided in Orillia back in August and police found a huge, high-calibre handgun during the operation. Some people who spoke to The Packet at the time said it was obvious what was going on there before the raid. There are other places in the city with the same activities occurring, those people told us at the time. What responsibility should property owners have when it comes to illegal activity inside the walls of their buildings, keeping in mind that they are bound by the law as well when it comes to privacy and access? It was a little alarming to hear the unmistakable frustration in Barrie Police Chief Wayne Frechette's statement after Project Stone Cold led to 17 arrests in that city to the south - no doubt causing ripples in Orillia. "We're not (so) naive to think this will have a lasting impact - most of these people will be out on bail before the week's out," he said. That speaks to the short sentences handed out in drug crimes. But there is frustration on a variety of levels. Local criminal lawyer Carl Garland recently told The Packet that Orillia is drowning in a sea of crack and the justice system is failing to respond. He sees drug counselling and preventative measures as the way to go. Perhaps pressuring lax property owners into more responsible action is one small part of the solution when it comes to prevention. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek