Pubdate: Sun, 07 Oct 2007
Source: Kamloops This Week (CN BC)
Copyright: 2007 Kamloops This Week
Contact:  http://www.kamloopsthisweek.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1271
Author: Cassidy Olivier, Staff reporter

ALLEYS STILL DRUG HAVENS

It's a nondescript parking lot, modest in size and wedged between 
Seymour and Victoria streets on one side and Second and Third avenues 
on the others.

In many ways, it's your typical city alleyway parking lot, filled 
with a few cars on most days and home to a couple of blue garbage 
bins. Random graffiti adds some colour.

And, like many of its counterparts, it often proves an ideal spot for 
local drug dealers who use its relative privacy to make a quick deal.

Lately, this is something Ralph Ragan of Ragan Advertising has seen 
happening beyond his back doors on a regular basis.

Within the past few weeks, the owner of the Victoria Street business 
estimated he's had to call the cops about twice a week to deal with 
undesirables in the lot.

He noted this is not exclusive to his businesses, but something most 
downtown businesses deal with.

"This is only my opinion, but I think, generally speaking, there are 
numerous problems far beyond drugs," he said. "They are more of a 
nuisance than anything else."

However, while police response has always been good, he says the 
source of the call has often moved on before the red and blue arrive 
- - likely wandering down a few blocks to set up shop in another 
parking lot or alley enclave.

Often, the same person will return shortly afterward, nullifying the 
point of the original call.

But, while noting the obvious burden their presence has, Ragan 
reiterates the dealers are more of a nuisance than threat.

His staff, he said, don't feel unsafe when coming or leaving the 
workplace and business has not been affected.

Prior to this recent "spike" in complaints, he said, there was a long 
stretch of relative calm, which was itself preceded by another, 
similar spike in activity this spring.

The apparent trend, he said, leads him to suspect the ups and downs 
could be connected to the weather and what effect it has on the 
movement of transients.

However, the spike in calls raises other interesting questions about 
the RCMP's Crime Reduction Strategy - namely, did the crackdown on 
drug dealers in the spring merely push them into the alleyways - much 
like many organizations thought would happen to prostitution 
following the implementation of the red zones?

Gay Pooler, the general manager of the Downtown Kamloops Central 
Business Improvement Association (KCBIA), said back-alley drug deals 
are not a new phenomena and not likely a direct result of the city's 
crime strategy.

In fact, she said, most businesses reported a significant drop in 
visible drug activity following the RCMP's operations this spring.

"It is a constant battle" she said. "But we are definitely working on 
the solutions all the time."

RCMP Cpl. Scott Wilson said he has no data to prove drug dealers had 
moved into the alleys. But alleys, he added, have always been 
desirable for dealers as they provide more cover.

He said police are aware of the concerns and are working to address 
them. The parking lot behind Ragan Advertising is a trouble area, he said.

"These situations can be hard to deal with as, many times, by the 
time we arrive . . . the suspect may have departed or has nothing 
illegal on them when we check," he said.

"Having said that, we always encourage the public to call us with any 
observations of what may be illegal activity. We respond to all the calls."
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart