Pubdate: Tue, 18 Dec 2007
Source: Mountain View Gazette  (CN AB)
Copyright: 2007 Mountain View Publishing
Contact:  http://www.mountainviewgazette.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4234
Author: Dan Singleton, MVG Staff
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?241 (Methamphetamine - Canada)

NEW LAW TARGETS PROPERTIES USED FOR METH LABS, OTHER CRIMES

New provincial legislation will help the public better assist police 
in targeting criminal activities such as methamphetamine labs and 
marijuana grow operations based on rural properties, say officials.

The Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act was passed in the latest 
sitting of the Legislature. The law creates two new so-called Safer 
Community and Neighbourhood Team (SCAN) units that will collect and 
investigate complaints from the public.

The growth of meth labs and grow operations in rural Alberta makes 
the new law timely and necessary, said Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills 
Conservative MLA Richard Marz.

"Unfortunately we're not immune to these things," said Marz. "It's 
another tool for the communities and law enforcement to deal with 
things that affect the community."

One of the largest methamphetamine labs ever busted in Alberta was 
found on a rural property near Cremona in 2005.

Criminal activities uncovered by the SCAN units will be forwarded to 
local RCMP detachments for followup investigations and charges.

Trevor Gemmell, spokesperson for the Solicitor General and Public 
Security Department, told the Gazette the new units will be an 
important tool in combating both urban and rural crime.

"We find that derelict properties often breed criminal activities, so 
we want to shut these properties down," said Gemmell.

"A lot of times these properties may be rented out and the property 
owner may not know what is going on, so the SCAN unit can investigate 
and shut down the activities by sending letters to the property 
owners telling them to get it cleaned up."

The SCAN units will not have the authority to make raids or arrests, 
but will work closely with police and the community, Gemmell added.

"Anything criminal will go to the police," he said. "For the public, 
there will be a contact number set up where the public can call if 
they suspect or if they find a property that they want investigated 
or cleaned up. Then the SCAN team will come and investigate.

Gemmell stresses that the first call should be to police and the 
second call should be to the SCAN unit.

Each SCAN team will be made up of 10 members and will likely be 
designated as peace officers. The teams will be based in Calgary and 
Edmonton, but will patrol throughout the province, including in rural 
communities.

The new law was the result of a private member's bill put forward by 
MLA Art Johnson.

"Derelict properties can be a breeding ground for criminal activity, 
and this act provides communities with a new tool to deal with crime 
and disturbances that can devastate our neighbourhoods," said Johnson.

Attorney General Fred Lindsay echoed Johnson's comments.

"This tough new legislation supports community efforts to target and 
shut down derelict properties used as drug houses or to commit other 
criminal activities that endanger our children and families," said Lindsay.

Justice Minister Ron Stevens said he's also pleased SCNA will give 
the community-at-large a chance to have more input into local crime fighting.

"This is a perfect example of the community helping those in the 
justice system address crime at the local level," said Stevens.

Over the next number of months work will begin on formulating related 
policies, procedures and protocols for the units, with stakeholders, 
including local police detachments, health authorities, municipal 
agencies and government ministries expected to be involved.

Next month officials with the program will be travelling to 
Saskatchewan where similar units are already in operation.

"The operational side of these units needs to be set up," said 
Gemmell. "The legislation set out what we can do, but the policies 
and procedures now need to be set up.

The legislation itself came in response to the recently released 
Crime Reduction and Safe Communities Task Force report, which found 
that more needs to be done to prevent crime in urban and rural areas, 
the government said.

"Preventing crime and improving safety isn't something the 
government, or the courts or the police can do alone, nor will it 
happen overnight," the report said.

"Albertans need to take responsibility at all levels. This is about 
individuals, families and communities stepping up and recognizing 
that many of the factors that contribute to crime are within their hands."

Meanwhile, the new Traffic Safety Amendment Act 2007, also passed 
during the recently-completed session, will target drunk drivers by 
considering blood alcohol readings taken up to three hours after 
driving to be the same as the blood alcohol concentration at the time 
of driving.

"Together we have to ensure motorists in this province take safety 
seriously by slowing down, staying sober, paying attention and 
buckling up," said Luke Ouellette, Minister of Infrastructure and 
Transportation.

The act also adds a liability cap for the vehicle leasing and sale 
industry, with the responsibility those parties have when a leased or 
loaned vehicle is in a collision now being limited.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom