A British Columbia Supreme Court case may challenge one of the main underpinnings of Surrey's new grow op program. This week, a B.C. Supreme Court judge ruled Hydro had to return power to a South Surrey home after shutting it off because police escorted municipal inspectors onto the property. This was deemed equivalent to a warrantless search by police. Under Surrey's program, high consumers of power are served warning of a pending municipal inspection. High power consumption is a sign of a potential marijuana grow operation. [continues 66 words]
The city is increasing its call to arms against a drug that's ravaging Surrey youth and fuelling crime in this city. Surrey Fire Chief Len Garis says he's "raising the bar" on an initiative to choke off crystal methamphetamine (meth) at its source - -- the household items bought to make the drug. Garis delivered a report to council Monday reminding elected officials of the alarming trend regarding meth, a relatively cheap and highly addictive drug. It can be easily made and is sold for about $5 a dose on the street. [continues 261 words]
Help for this city's most drug addicted has arrived. Creekside Withdrawal Management Centre, funded by the province through the Fraser Health Authority (FHA), was officially opened Thursday at 13740 94A Ave., across from Surrey Memorial Hospital. It includes 30 beds for drug and alcohol detoxification -- 24 for adults and six for youth. Creekside replaces Burnaby's Maple Cottage, which supported 1,200 people annually. Service providers have long said Surrey is in desperate need of drug detox beds. At Whalley's Front Room drop-in centre, in the 10600-block of 135A Street, about two people a day come in to call for a detox bed. [continues 154 words]
New Facility Will Provide 30 Beds Help for this city's most drug addicted has arrived. Creekside Withdrawal Management Centre, funded by the province through the Fraser Health Authority, was officially opened Thursday afternoon at 13740 94 A Avenue, across from Surrey Memorial Hospital. It includes 30 beds for drug and alcohol detoxification -- 24 for adults and six dedicated for youth. Creekside replaces Burnaby's Maple Cottage, which supported 1,200 people annually. Service providers have long said this city is in desperate need of drug detox beds. [continues 229 words]
New Alberta legislation protecting kids found in marijuana grow operations has caught the attention of social workers who continue to ask for stronger protocols for B.C. Last December, Alberta passed the Drug-Endangered Children Act, which establishes that having kids in a grow-op or meth lab environment can be considered abuse. An association representing social workers in this province said similar guidelines are needed here. "We liked that they were succinct in their naming of having children in commercial grow-ops," said Paul Jenkinson, B.C. Association of Social Workers, Child Welfare and Family Committee Chair. "If you're a social worker in Alberta, you have a much better direction, I think, in how serious this is." [continues 349 words]
New Alberta legislation protecting kids found in marijuana grow operations has caught the attention of social workers who continue to ask for stronger protocols for B.C. Last December, Alberta passed the Drug-Endangered Children Act, which establishes that having kids in a grow-op or meth lab environment can be considered abuse. An association representing social workers in this province said similar guidelines are needed here. "We liked that they were succinct in their naming of having children in commercial grow-ops," said Paul Jenkinson, B.C. Association of Social Workers, Child Welfare and Family Committee chair. "If you're a social worker in Alberta, you have a much better direction, I think, in how serious this is." [continues 349 words]
New Alberta legislation protecting kids found in marijuana grow operations has caught the attention of social workers who continue to ask for stronger protocols for B.C. Last December, Alberta passed the Drug-Endangered Children Act, which establishes that having kids in a grow op or meth lab environment can be considered abuse. An association representing social workers in this province said similar guidelines are needed here. "We liked that they were succinct in their naming of having children in commercial grow ops," said Paul Jenkinson, B.C. Association of Social Workers, Child Welfare and Family Committee Chair. "If you're a social worker in Alberta, you have a much better direction, I think, in how serious this is." [continues 348 words]
It's 2002, and Dianne Watts flips open a large black binder where she keeps her plan for crime reduction in Surrey. Approaches include enforcement, education, prevention and treatment -- a quantum shift from a city that leaned hard on enforcement, with little provision for root causes of crime. Five years later, Watts is mayor, with a finely tuned version of her rough document started six years ago. More than 100 people from government, justice, social services and health care contributed to the creation of the Crime Reduction Strategy made public Monday. [continues 290 words]
Toxic chemicals jettisoned from clandestine drug labs are costing Surrey a bundle, and expenses are climbing as a three dumps were found this month. A third meth dump was found in South Surrey Friday morning, at 28 Avenue and 184 Street, bringing to three the number of dumps found in Surrey in the past month. Costs are significant. Surrey paid private firms more than $85,000 last year to clean up wastes from methamphetamine labs and marijuana grow operations. Some of those costs are recovered from homeowners when labs are seized by police, but taxpayers are on the hook for chemicals dumped in public areas. [continues 340 words]
Toxic chemicals from clandestine drug labs are costing this city a bundle, with expenses climbing after three dumps were found this month. Last week, two large meth dump sites were found in Clayton, and on Friday, a third was discovered by police at 28 Avenue and 184 Street. Surrey paid private firms more than $85,000 last year to clean up wastes from methamphetamine labs and marijuana grow operations. Some of those costs are recovered from homeowners when labs are seized by police, but taxpayers are on the hook for chemicals dumped in public areas. [continues 500 words]
About 1,300 marijuana grow operations in this city probably include some 300 homes with children living in dangerous conditions, Surrey's fire chief estimates. An association representing social workers says it's a "crisis situation" in need of fast action by the provincial government. The children are living "with the possibility of being electrocuted, burned to death, smoke inhalation, poisoning, respiratory illness or someone coming in and beating the crap out of their parents," said Paul Jenkinson, of the B.C. Association of Social Workers, Child Welfare and Family Committee Chair. [continues 469 words]
About 1,300 marijuana grow operations in Surrey likely include 300 homes with children living in dangerous conditions, the city's fire chief estimates. The B.C. Association of Social Workers, Child Welfare and Family Committee Chair says it's a "crisis situation" in need of fast action by government. The children are living "with the possibility of being electrocuted, burned to death, smoke inhalation, poisoning, respiratory illness or someone coming in and beating the crap out of their parents," said the association's Paul Jenkinson. [continues 339 words]
The fate of 150 Surrey children found in "hazardous conditions" in the last year is being questioned by MLAs this week. The city's new grow-op inspection team found 155 children in dangerous homes in the last year. Each case was reported to the provincial agency responsible. An official with the Ministry of Children and Family Development could not say what happened, except that each was investigated. NDP MLAs are fuming about the lack of information. "It's unconscionable, we should be able to know as a community what is happening to the kids," said Sue Hammell, MLA for Surrey-Green Timbers. [continues 385 words]
More than 9,000 children in this region were reported as "at-risk" to the provincial Ministry of Children and Family Development last year. The incidents range from children left abandoned in cars to far more serious accounts. Ministry officials say the number gives perspective to calls from Surrey's new anti-pot grow op team. The Leader reported last week that inspections of homes suspected to be grow ops revealed 155 kids living in "hazardous conditions" last year. The ministry was notified in each instance, and officials say all calls were investigated, but can't reveal if any children were taken into provincial protection. [continues 277 words]
The fate of more than 150 Surrey children found in "hazardous conditions" in the last year is being questioned by local MLAs this week. The Leader reported Wednesday that the city's new grow-op inspection team found 155 children in dangerous homes in the last year. Each case was reported to the provincial agency responsible. An official with the B.C. Ministry of Children and Family Development could not say what happened in each case, except that each was investigated. [continues 616 words]
In the last year, 155 children were found living in "hazardous conditions" by Surrey firefighters working to shut down marijuana grow operations in this city. The revelation comes as Surrey Fire Chief Len Garis looks to expand the city's Electrical and Fire Safety Inspection (ESFI) program, which is designed to slam the door on grow ops and other homes deemed electrically hazardous. Under the year-old program, B.C. Hydro identifies homes using extraordinary amounts of power, and firefighters and city crews inspect the properties. [continues 220 words]
Firefighters Find Surrey Children Living In Dangerous Homes In the last year, 155 children have been found living in "hazardous conditions" and were reported to the province by Surrey firefighters. The revelation comes as Surrey Fire Chief Len Garis looks to expand the city's Electrical and Fire Safety Inspection (ESFI) program. The program is designed to shut down marijuana grow operations, and other homes deemed electrically hazardous. Of the 353 homes inspected in just over a year, 264 had the power cut by B.C. Hydro because ESFI team found the buildings were unsafe. Another 39 homeowners were given a week to correct electrical problems. [continues 180 words]
A New Direction For Crime Reduction In Surrey Was Unveiled This Week. A 38-member crime reduction task force met Monday morning to review crime strategies brought back from Britain last month by Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts and a 12-member delegation of city staff, police and provincial bureaucrats. Some of the tools used in Britain include the use of closed circuit television surveillance, identifying repeat offenders, a focus on treating drug-addicted criminals and an integrated role for the community and faith groups. [continues 363 words]
Court-ordered drug recovery is only useful when backed with effective treatment programs, according to a senior expert on addiction. The combination will be key as civic officials debate a host of crime reduction initiatives that include sending drug-addicted criminals to treatment. Critics of the program say people forced into treatment are doomed to fail. Addicts have to truly want treatment to succeed, they say. However, one of the top addictions experts in the province disagrees. Dr. Ray Baker, architect of UBC's addiction medicine program, said the plan backed by Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts sounds workable. [continues 342 words]
Drug And Alcohol Abuse At Heart Of Public Safety Crime reduction through drug treatment is a key piece of the mayor's public safety goal. Lawlessness and drug abuse are inextricably linked, Mayor Dianne Watts said Monday. It's why she'll be focusing on the relationship as part of the city's crime reduction strategy - a plan expected to unfold sometime this fall. Statistics Canada estimates from five years ago indicate 70 to 90 per cent of all crimes in this country are related to drug and alcohol abuse. [continues 295 words]
Crime reduction through drug treatment is a key piece of the mayor's public safety goal. Lawlessness and drug abuse are inextricably linked, Mayor Dianne Watts said Monday. It's why she'll be focusing on the relationship as part of the city's crime reduction strategy - a plan expected to unfold sometime this fall. Statistics Canada estimates from five years ago indicate 70 to 90 per cent of all crimes in this country are related to drug and alcohol abuse. [continues 300 words]
A city-imposed deadline on a local drug recovery house has come and gone, and the head of the North Surrey facility says he'll continue operating. "We're getting back to the business of recovery," said Richard Schmold, operator of Cornerstone Manor, a collection of three recovery homes serving about 15 clients in Whalley. The future of the facility was cast in doubt two months ago when a Surrey bylaw enforcement officer issued a compliance order on Cornerstone. "A recent inspection of the above property has revealed that you are operating a recovery home," the notice stated, adding the property isn't properly zoned for that purpose. [continues 210 words]
Security cameras in public places, more drug treatment centres for addicted criminals, a new focus on prolific offenders and a stronger working relationship with all levels of government will be on Surrey's civic agenda following the mayor's fact-finding trip to England. Dianne Watts was sorting her notes Tuesday after a week-long tour to see Britain's Crime Reduction Strategy, which has reduced crime rates in some communities by up to 35 per cent. While she anticipates bringing a whole suite of ideas to the crime reduction task force meeting Sept. 12, she listed some highlights of what will be discussed. [continues 128 words]
Surrey alcohol and drug recovery homes will have to obtain proper zoning or shut down. The long-dormant issue is arising again after complaints from the public regarding at least three North Surrey recovery homes near 101 Avenue and 133 Street known collectively as Cornerstone Manor. It's unknown how many recovery homes are operating in Surrey, but in 1998, this city had 54 - one-third of the provincial total. City officials believe there are less than that now, but only one of them, Cloverdale's Path to Freedom, is licensed and zoned properly. [continues 570 words]
Surrey will be home to a medium-to large-scale treatment centre, if a current proposal goes ahead as planned, Mayor Dianne Watts says. An unnamed Surrey philanthropist is proposing the facility, which will be subject to extensive community consultation in the coming months. The philanthropist, who has another facility in the United States, already owns the land and is keen to get the treatment centre started in Surrey. Details of the facility are being kept tightly under wraps until the plan is formalized, likely closer to the year's end. [continues 410 words]
Most meth labs in this province use chemical products from overseas, according to a senior drug cop who says a bill tabled by a Surrey MLA this week will likely have little effect. Jagrup Brar, MLA for Surrey Panorama Ridge, introduced the Crystal Meth Prevention Act in the legislature Wednesday to control the sale of cold medicines at pharmacies. Some of the medicines contain drugs (ephedrine and pseudoephedrine) that can be extracted and made into crystal methamphetamine (meth), an extremely addictive and dangerous drug. [continues 219 words]
Most meth labs in this province use chemical products from overseas, according to a senior drug cop who says a bill tabled by a Surrey MLA this week will likely have little effect. Jagrup Brar, MLA for Surrey Panorama Ridge, introduced the Crystal Meth Prevention Act in the legislature Wednesday to control the sale of cold medicines at pharmacies. Some of the medicines contain drugs (ephedrine and pseudoephedrine) that can be extracted and made into crystal methamphetamine (meth), an extremely addictive and dangerous drug. [continues 218 words]
The provincial legislature has passed a law requiring electrical companies to forward billing information to municipalities. Bill 25 is in response to a proposal brought forward by Surrey Fire Chief Len Garis in an attempt to find new ways to shut down marijuana grow operations. The bill allows municipalities to determine which homes are using exorbitant amounts of electricity, an indication of a grow operation. There are at least 2,000 homes in Surrey with marijuana plantations. For the last year, Garis has operated the Electrical Fire Safety Initiative (EFSI), in an attempt to hammer down that number. [continues 79 words]
The provincial legislature has passed a law requiring electrical companies to forward billing information to municipalities. Bill 25 is in response to a proposal brought forward by Surrey Fire Chief Len Garis in an attempt to find new ways to shut down marijuana grow operations. The bill allows municipalities to determine which homes are using exorbitant amounts of electricity, an indication of a grow operation. There are at least 2,000 homes in Surrey with marijuana plantations. For the last year, Garis has operated the Electrical Fire Safety Initiative (EFSI), in an attempt to hammer down that number. [continues 78 words]
Heavy Users Of Electricity Will Be Reported To Police Under New B.C. Legislation. Near the end of this month, municipalities will have BC Hydro records on demand, data which will be turned over to police to determine whether spikes in power use were caused by a marijuana grow operation. Marijuana grow ops require high power consumption, typically three to 10 times the amount used by a normal home. "This amendment will help local authorities target and shut down marijuana grow operations more quickly and more efficiently," Minister of Public Safety John Les said in the legislature Thursday, as he introduced Bill 25. "With these amendments, municipalities will now be able to obtain information from electricity companies about residences with unusual power consumption." [continues 166 words]
Heavy users of electricity will be reported to police under new B.C. legislation. Near the end of this month, municipalities will have BC Hydro records on demand, data which will be turned over to police to determine whether spikes in power use were caused by a marijuana grow operation. Marijuana grow ops require high power consumption, typically three to 10 times the amount used by a normal home. "This amendment will help local authorities target and shut down marijuana grow operations more quickly and more efficiently," Minister of Public Safety John Les said in the legislature Thursday, as he introduced Bill 25. "With these amendments, municipalities will now be able to obtain information from electricity companies about residences with unusual power consumption." [continues 160 words]
SURREY -- Heavy users of electricity will be reported to police under new B.C. legislation. Near the end of this month, municipalities will have BC Hydro records on demand, data which will be turned over to police to determine whether spikes in power use were caused by a marijuana grow operation. Marijuana grow ops require high power consumption, typically three to 10 times the amount used by a normal home. "This amendment will help local authorities target and shut down marijuana grow operations more quickly and more efficiently," Minister of Public Safety John Les said in the legislature Thursday, as he introduced Bill 25. "With these amendments, municipalities will now be able to obtain information from electricity companies about residences with unusual power consumption." [continues 275 words]
Power Authority Compelled To Turn Over Details Of High Power Users Heavy users of electricity will be reported to police under a new bill introduced in the legislature this week. Near the end of this month, municipalities will have BC Hydro records on demand, data which will be turned over to police to determine whether spikes in power use were caused by a marijuana grow operation. Marijuana grow ops require high power consumption, typically three to 10 times the amount used by a normal home. [continues 492 words]
SURREY - Heavy users of electricity will be reported to police under new B.C. legislation. Near the end of this month, municipalities will have BC Hydro records on demand, data which will be turned over to police to determine whether spikes in power use were caused by a marijuana grow operation. Marijuana grow ops require high power consumption, typically three to 10 times the amount used by a normal home. "This amendment will help local authorities target and shut down marijuana grow operations more quickly and more efficiently," Minister of Public Safety John Les said in the legislature Thursday, as he introduced Bill 25. [continues 295 words]
Heavy users of electricity will be reported to police under a new bill introduced in the legislature this week. Near the end of this month, municipalities will have BC Hydro records on demand, data which will be turned over to police to determine whether spikes in power use were caused by a marijuana grow operation. Marijuana grow ops require high power consumption, typically three to 10 times the amount used by a normal home. "This amendment will help local authorities target and shut down marijuana grow operations more quickly and more efficiently," Minister of Public Safety John Les said in the legislature Thursday, as he introduced Bill 25. "With these amendments, municipalities will now be able to obtain information from electricity companies about residences with unusual power consumption." [continues 462 words]
Heavy users of electricity will be reported to police under a bill introduced in the legislature this week. Near the end of this month, municipalities will have B.C. Hydro records on demand, data they'll turn over to police to determine if spikes in power use were caused by a marijuana grow operation. Grow-ops require high power consumption, typically three to 10 times the amount used by a normal home. "This will help local authorities shut down marijuana grow operations more quickly and more efficiently," Minister of Public Safety John Les said Thursday, as he introduced Bill 25. [continues 292 words]
Heavy users of electricity will be reported to police under a new bill introduced in the legislature this week. Near the end of this month, municipalities will have BC Hydro records on demand, data which will be turned over to police to determine whether spikes in power use were caused by a marijuana grow operation. Marijuana grow-ops require high power consumption, typically three to 10 times the amount used by a normal home. "This amendment will help local authorities target and shut down marijuana grow operations more quickly and more efficiently," Minister of Public Safety John Les said in the legislature Thursday, as he introduced Bill 25. [continues 396 words]
Heavy users of electricity will be reported to police under a new bill introduced in the legislature this week. By the end of this month, municipalities will have access to BC Hydro records on demand, data which will be turned over to police to determine whether spikes in power use were caused by a marijuana grow op. Marijuana grow operations require high power consumption, typically three to 10 times the amount used by a normal home. "This amendment will help local authorities target and shut down marijuana grow operations more quickly and more efficiently," Minister of Public Safety John Les said in the legislature Thursday, as he introduced Bill 25. "With these amendments, municipalities will now be able to obtain information from electricity companies about residences with unusual power consumption." [continues 408 words]
Heavy users of electricity will be reported to police under a bill introduced in the legislature this week aimed at helping cops catch pot farmers. Near the end of this month, municipalities will have BC Hydro records on demand, data that will be turned over to police to determine whether spikes in power use were caused by a marijuana grow operation. Marijuana grow ops require large amounts of electricity, typically three to 10 times the amount used by an average home. [continues 422 words]
Heavy users of electricity will be reported to police under a new bill introduced in the legislature this week. Near the end of this month, municipalities will have BC Hydro records on demand, data which will be turned over to police to determine whether spikes in power use were caused by a marijuana grow operation. Marijuana grow ops require high power consumption, typically three to 10 times the amount used by a normal home. "This amendment will help local authorities target and shut down marijuana grow operations more quickly and more efficiently," Minister of Public Safety John Les said in the legislature Thursday, as he introduced Bill 25. "With these amendments, municipalities will now be able to obtain information from electricity companies about residences with unusual power consumption." [continues 286 words]
Heavy users of electricity will be reported to police under a new bill introduced in the legislature this week. Near the end of this month, municipalities will have BC Hydro records on demand, data which will be turned over to police to determine whether spikes in power use were caused by a marijuana grow-operation. Marijuana grow-ops require high power consumption, typically three to 10 times the amount used by a normal home. "This amendment will help local authorities target and shut down marijuana grow operations more quickly and more efficiently," Minister of Public Safety John Les said in the legislature Thursday, as he introduced Bill 25. [continues 191 words]
Heavy users of electricity will be reported to police under a new bill introduced this week. Near the end of this month, municipalities will have BC Hydro records on demand, data which will be turned over to police to determine if spikes in power use were caused by a marijuana-grow operation. Marijuana grow-ops require high power consumption, typically three to 10 times the amount used by a normal home. "This amendment will help local authorities target and shut down marijuana grow operations more quickly and more efficiently," Minister of Public Safety John Les said in the legislature Thursday, as he introduced Bill 25. [continues 709 words]
Local law enforcement initiatives are succeeding where jail sentences fail in hammering down an "epidemic" of grow operations in this city, police say. RCMP Cpl. Vince Arsenault, an 18-year veteran of the Surrey RCMP drug squad, now heads up the city's seven-member Green Team and says marijuana grow operations are withering enterprises in this city. The total number of grow operations in Surrey has been estimated at between 2,500 and 4,500, but Arsenault told The Leader Friday those numbers are probably high, although he couldn't say exactly how far off they are. [continues 470 words]
In less than two weeks, Surrey bylaw officials have declared 21 homes uninhabitable due to marijuana grow operations. The heated pace is spurred in part by to two existing programs, including RCMP enforcement and a relatively new program with the fire department and city building division which collectively declare homes unsafe due to wiring changes required for grow operations. Now, the city's bylaw officers are sweeping in afterward and declaring the homes uninhabitable until repairs are complete. As of Monday, bylaw staff had served notice on the doors of 21 homes found to be drug labs or grow operations, mostly in the Fleetwood and Guildford area. [continues 280 words]
Surrey is dropping the hammer on drug houses, declaring them uninhabitable until inspections are conducted and any needed repairs are complete. The initiative comes as part of the city's new Controlled Substance Property Bylaw presented to council Jan. 30. The bylaw was endorsed unanimously. Homeowners whose property is used for illegal drug operations will now be hit in the pocketbook as strict new measures will be required before the home can be resold. Once the city determines a home has been altered, electrically or structurally, to make it suitable for marijuana grow operations or meth labs, it will be off limits to occupancy. [continues 214 words]
Surrey Task Force Urges Retailers To Beware Of Illicit Purchases A local methamphetamine task force hit the streets Monday to alert retailers about potentially dangerous products they sell. Crystal methamphetamine, or meth, is an increasingly popular, highly addictive and deadly drug. It's cooked up in home labs, made from substances available at pharmacies and hardware stores. Two of the active ingredients, ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, are contained in cough and allergy medicine. Other ingredients and tools are available at hardware stores, including camping fuel, acetone and red phosphorous. [continues 341 words]
A local methamphetamine task force is hitting the streets Monday to alert retailers about potentially dangerous products they sell. Crystal methamphetamine, or meth, is an increasingly popular, highly addictive and deadly drug. It's cooked up in home labs, made from substances available at pharmacies and hardware stores. Two of the active ingredients, ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, are contained in cough and allergy medicine. Other ingredients and tools are available at hardware stores, including camping fuel, acetone and red phosphorous. Surrey Methamphetamine Regional Task Force (SMART), a group of about 20 people, is launching a campaign next week to educate retailers. [continues 376 words]
Campaigns Aim To Limit Sales Of Chemicals It may get harder for dealers to manufacture a deadly street drug, as Surrey's methamphetamine task force approaches retailers about potentially dangerous products on their shelves. In the next month, task force chair Bruce Hayne will be working with others to educate retailers about "reactants" and "precursor drugs" used to make crystal methamphetamine. The precursors, including ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, are commonly found in cold and allergy medicines and can be used to make methamphetamine, an increasingly popular, highly addictive street drug. [continues 397 words]
It may get harder for dealers to manufacture a deadly street drug, as Surrey's methamphetamine regional task force approaches local retailers about potentially dangerous products on their shelves. In the next month, task force chair Bruce Hayne said he'll be working with others in educating retailers about some of the "reactants" and "precursor drugs" used to make crystal methamphetamine, commonly known as meth. The precursors, including ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, are commonly found in cold and allergy medicines and can be used to make methamphetamine, an increasingly popular, highly addictive lethal street drug. [continues 423 words]
