Pubdate: Sat, 18 Aug 2007
Source: Chatham Daily News, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2007 OSPREY Media Group Inc.
Contact:  http://www.chathamdailynews.ca
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1627

CLEAR MESSAGE FOR LANDLORDS

The Ministry of the Attorney General, with the help of  the 
Chatham-Kent Police Service, sent a loud message  last week - when a 
building suffers from chronic  criminal activity and its owner seems 
like he or she  could care less, the government could seize the  building.

As a result, 51 Taylor Ave. is now in the hands of the  Attorney 
General's office.

Police say over a five-year period, they responded to  more than 300 
calls to the two-storey apartment  building and executed 21 search 
warrants on three  apartments in the building.

The result: 49 arrests and 119 charges.

Under the Civil Remedies Act, the onus is on the  property owner to 
at least try to clean up criminal  activity once he or she becomes 
aware of it. This  doesn't mean vigilante justice or putting one's 
well-being on the line, but landlords can evict tenants  and improve 
building security to discourage criminal  activity, while at the same 
time helping make the  building safer for the law-abiding residents. 
It's not  like everyone at 51 Taylor Ave. is a drug user or  dealer. 
But the building has been so rife with criminal  activity - and 
inactivity of the property owner - that  the Attorney General, at the 
urging of Chatham-Kent  police, decided to act.

Neighbours are glad the ministry made its move. They  hope the 
building, described by the Chatham-Kent Police  Chief as "an awful 
place," can be cleaned up and be  free of criminal activity.

Other owners of "drug houses" or apartment complexes  rife with the 
criminal element just hope the next  building confiscated - and 
police say they have their  eyes set on at least one more property - 
isn't theirs.

The best way to prevent that from occurring is for the  landlords to 
stop looking the other way and take  action.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom