Pubdate: Thu, 04 Aug 2005
Source: Northumberland News (CN ON)
Copyright: 2005 by Metroland Printing, Publishing & Distributing, Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.durhamregion.com/dr/nn/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2373
Author: Jeanne Beneteau

PORT HOPE TAKES TOUGH STAND ON DRUGS

PORT HOPE - Those who carve out their livelihood in Port Hope's illegal 
drug trade better be watching their backs, says Port Hope's police chief.

Since early spring, Port Hope Police Constable Mike Powell has been 
assigned to the Kawartha Combined Forces Drug Unit, which includes officers 
from the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), the Cobourg Police Service and 
the Peterborough Lakefield Police Service, says Chief Ron Hoath. The 
squad's sole focus is cracking down on drugs and the people who sell them. 
Like every other community across the country, Port Hope has its share of 
drug dealers. However, the problem is on the rise and Chief Hoath says he 
felt is was high time to take a pro-active stance in the fight against drugs.

"We felt we had to do more," he says. "We need to take a strong stand, nab 
the drugs from the source to get these drugs off our streets.

Const. Powell's co-operative presence on the drug unit squad offers an 
up-close-and-personal Port Hope spin to cracking down on local well-known 
drug dealers, says the chief.

There are plenty of drugs out on the streets of Port Hope, he explains. 
Crack cocaine is very popular and ecstasy is quite common as well as softer 
drugs such as marijuana and hash. Although crystal methamphetamine, popular 
in larger centres, is not yet a local problem, Chief Hoath expects it is 
only a matter of time before it becomes commonly available on local streets.

Many of the problems police deal with on a daily basis are substance-abuse 
related.

"When you look at vandalism and break and enters, alcohol and/or drugs tend 
to be the common thread," he says.

Police are serious about coming down hard and heavy on the local drug 
traffic, he adds.

"If you deal drugs in Port Hope, expect police to make your lives as 
miserable and unbearable as possible," he says. "If you deal drugs here, 
you can expect to go to jail."

Chief Hoath says the force is aiming to make a Port Hope officer on the 
combined drug squad a permanent fixture. This request will be included in 
the proposed 2006 policing budget, currently in the planning stages. Budget 
talks are slated to begin at the September meeting of the Port Hope Police 
Services Board.
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