Pubdate: Thu, 22 Feb 2007
Source: Chronicle Herald (CN NS)
Copyright: 2007 The Halifax Herald Limited
Contact:  http://thechronicleherald.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/180
Author: Beverley Ware, South Shore Bureau

NEW STREET CRIME UNIT TO BATTLE DRUG SCOURGE ON THE SOUTH SHORE

'In our world, the root of all evil is drugs'

BRIDGEWATER - Police forces along the South Shore have banded together
to form a new street crime unit and a local prosecutor thinks it's
come along just in the nick of time.

"In our world, the root of all evil is drugs, said Staff Sgt. Steve
Mills, Lunenburg County RCMP detachment commander. "You get rid of the
drug problem and you get rid of most of the crimes.

The integrated unit will include three RCMP officers from Lunenburg
and Queens counties and a Bridgewater town police officer. Their top
priority will be nabbing drug traffickers.

Prosecutor Paul Scovil said he is seeing an increase in violent crimes
and it correlates with the use of more hard drugs.

"It struck me I've recently seen an increase in crimes associated with
crack cocaine, said the Bridgewater-based prosecutor. He said it's a
pattern he saw unfold when he worked in Yarmouth as a Nova Scotia
Legal Aid lawyer and later a prosecutor.

"I see a very similar kind of pattern where the nature of offences are
starting to escalate and it's surrounding crack use, Mr. Scovil said.
"It's a slow creeping increase, like a cancer. It's more individuals
and more serious crimes and it just ratchets everything up a notch.

The crimes include break-ins, more violent robberies and offences
involving weapons.

"It's people looking for drug money, looking to settle drug debts,
looking to get drugs, Mr. Scovil said.

Staff Sgt. Mills said tackling the growing use of harder drugs is a
key part of the street crime enforcement unit's job.

"Any drug you can imagine has touched here in one form or another
except, mercifully, for crystal meth.

Of particular concern is the rising use of ecstasy and crack, he
said.

Break-ins, thefts and assaults are frequently done by drug addicts
looking for money for a fix or to pay a debt. Staff Sgt. Mills said
there will be a tremendous spillover effect once this unit starts
tackling street-level drug dealers.

"You will see the crime rate drop significantly, he said. "This (unit)
is something people in our positions have been looking for for a very
long time.

The new unit is being paid for by the province as part of its
initiative to have 250 new officers in place by 2011.

Staff Sgt. Bruno Deveau, commander of the Queens County detachment
based in Liverpool, said the new unit will also free up officers to
focus on more immediate concerns. Driving violations are a major issue
for residents in Queens County, he said.

"For the community, I see good things coming from this, he
said.

The unit will also enforce the terms of house arrests and conditional
sentences.

"If you're supposed to be home between six o'clock at night and seven
in the morning, at ten o'clock at night those guys may be knocking on
your door, Staff Sgt Deveau said.

The unit is set to begin work April 1 and will be based in the
Bridgewater town police headquarters.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Derek