Pubdate: Mon, 27 Jun 2005
Source: Richmond News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005, Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc.
Contact:  http://www.richmond-news.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1244
Author: Nelson Bennett
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

CITY EYES POWERFUL TOOL IN WAR ON GROW-OPS

Richmond politicians want to take a close look at a pilot project in 
Surrey that renders marijuana growers literally powerless.

"I'd like to examine the results of what has happened to this point, 
but I would definitely like Richmond to take a look at such a 
program," said Mayor Malcolm Brodie.

Coun. Linda Barnes, who chairs the ccommunity safety committee, plans 
to ask Fire Chief Jim Hancock to look into a new approach of cutting 
power to suspected grow-ops. "Anything we can do to help shut down 
grow-ops and keep not only our residents - but also our police and 
firefighters - safe is worth looking into," she said.

The Surrey project attacked the marijuana grow-op problem in that 
city by simply shutting off the electricity that powers them.

Sunday's fire in a warehouse with a grow-op and a 19-unit grow-op 
found in the Cranberry Lane townhouses in March underscore just how 
widespread the problem of marijuana grow-ops is in Richmond.

Richmond council is poised to give final adoption Monday to a bylaw 
that puts more onus on landlords to police their rental properties, 
and the city plans to extend the bylaw to commercial and industrial properties.

Earlier this week, Surrey Fire Chief Len Garis reported to Surrey 
council on a new approach to assist municipalities trying to crack 
down on grow-ops.

In a 90-day pilot project, Surrey Fire-Rescue worked with police and 
B.C. Hydro to identify 119 houses with suspected grow-ops, and cut 
off their power.

"We've made it clear that this is not to circumvent law enforcement," 
Garis said.

Police simply cannot keep up with the marijuana grow-op industry. 
Busting a grow-op often takes considerable surveillance in order to 
gather enough evidence for a search warrant, and often the marijuana 
growers pass through a revolving door court system that spits them 
right back out onto the streets.

"I think it's fair to say that the courts are not imposing any real 
penalties on the perpetrators of the grow-ops, so what we have to do 
is find an efficient way to make it so uncomfortable for those people 
involved with the grow-ops that they won't want to do it in our 
city," Brodie said.

Marijuana grow-ops require huge amounts of electricity, which raises 
the risk of a fire, especially if power systems have been tampered with.

Police often learn about marijuana grow-ops through tips from the 
public. But getting a warrant can take a long time.

The burden of proof isn't quite so heavy when the problem is 
approached from a public safety aspect.

Under the new pilot project, police initiate a Freedom of Information 
request to BC Hydro to obtain consumption information on houses 
suspected of harbouring grow-ops.

"If it's deemed to be unusually high, the team will visit the home," 
Garis said.

Before doing an inspection, an inspection team checks permits taken 
out with the city to see if a new pool, whirlpool or other facility 
might explain a spike in consumption. But often, it's clear something 
illegal is going on.

"In most cases, it's a no-brainer," said BC Hydro spokesperson Elisha 
Moreno said.

If the inspection team suspects there is a grow-op present, they 
issue 48 hours notice that they plan to inspect the house for safety reasons.

During the 90-day trial, police, fire and building inspectors 
attended 126 homes, took action against 119, and cut the power to 78. 
In 30 cases, power had been rerouted.

"Ninety-four per cent were found to be unsafe," Garis said.

In most cases, when the inspections were done, the teams found 
evidence of a grow-op, but no occupants.

"In most cases, they picked up and left," Garis said.
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