Pubdate: Wed, 21 Sep 2005
Source: Airdrie Echo (CN AB)
Copyright: 2005 Airdrie Echo
Contact:  http://www.airdrieecho.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1558
Author: Myron Thompson, Wild Rose MP
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?241 (Methamphetamine - Canada)

MP HEARS WHAT POLICE HAVE TO SAY

The people in Wild Rose have long been proud of the fact that they have had 
safe streets and a low crime rate. Unfortunately, this is no longer the 
case in many areas in the riding, according to local police.

This past summer, I visited many of the RCMP detachments in Wild Rose, 
including Olds, Sundre, Cochrane, Didsbury and Banff. They all reported to 
me that they are now facing many of the same problems as the big cities. 
The rise of crystal meth use, the spread of grow ops and the steady rise of 
gang violence are just three of the most pressing new problems affecting 
the safety and health of our communities.

These front-line officers told me again and again that the federal 
government has got to help them. They are simply short on manpower; they 
want Canada's sentencing, correction and parole systems reformed; and they 
want a national drug strategy.

These same complaints by police officers are being heard right across the 
country. According to the Canadian Professional Police Association, 
officers have lost confidence in a system that sees violent offenders 
regularly returned to the streets. They are asking for some deterrence in 
our justice system -- stiffer sentences, real jail time and tougher parole 
eligibility for violent offenders.

As the MP for Wild Rose, I was able to reassure our local officers that 
their message will be delivered to Ottawa and that a Conservative 
government would focus on providing adequate funding for police officers, 
as well as amending the Criminal Code to provide for a more realistic 
approach to violent crime.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom