Pubdate: Fri, 29 Dec 2006
Source: Daily News, The (CN NS)
Copyright: 2006 The Daily News
Contact:  http://www.hfxnews.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/179
Author:  Rachel Boomer

NEW SAFETY ACT TO BECOME LAW SOON

Early next month, neighbours will have one extra tool to help shut 
down that aggravating crack house or prostitution ring next door.

The province's Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act will become 
law early in the new year. It allows neighbours to report properties 
being used for criminal purposes to a three-member provincial 
investigation team, who will look into the claim.

If investigators find out that party house next door is actually 
selling drugs, sex or illegal gambling, they'll have the power to 
order the property owner or tenant to stop - or shut it down entirely.

"Members of the police could come in, arrest people in a house and 
seize equipment, but they couldn't close it down," Justice Department 
spokeswoman Carla Grant said yesterday.

"We will be able to close the property down so no other person could 
use it (for illegal purposes)."

The province will spend $540,000 to set up a three-person 
investigative unit for the act, an election promise Rodney 
MacDonald's Tories made last summer. Investigators will have the 
power to issue a community safety order first; if that isn't 
followed, they'll ask the courts for an order to shut the property down.
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MAP posted-by: Elaine