Pubdate: Fri, 15 Jul 2011 Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC) Copyright: 2011 Times Colonist Contact: http://www2.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/letters.html Website: http://www.timescolonist.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481 Author: Larissa Johnston CRACK FILM POSTING DEFENDED BY POLICE A Victoria Police Department video on how to make crack cocaine has drawn criticism as being inappropriate. The department posted the 55-second video on its YouTube channel on Wednesday. The film shows Victoria Police drug expert Conor King explaining the process of turning the powder form of cocaine into crack, the rock. The department used Twitter to publicize the video, which prompted Twitter account user to question why the police are showing people how to cook up the street drug. Prominent street worker Rev. Al Tysick was also critical. The message came across that it's easy to make and can be done almost anywhere, said the former executive director of Our Place. "For the most vulnerable kids out there, there might be some issues that I'd have concerns with as a parent," said Tysick. "That video won't make a difference one way or another on the street .. but I care about our younger generation." The video is intended to be informative, said Mike Tucker, Victoria Police spokesman. If someone sees a neighbour throwing out 30 empty boxes of baking soda each month, they might get suspicious and call the police, Tucker said. "People think of a cook house and they think of some clandestine laboratory," he said. The video shows that crack can be cooked in a regular kitchen and was released in the wake of a raid on a James Bay house, where police seized $30,000 in cocaine. Tucker said the video leaves out key details like measurements, how to heat the drug and at what temperature. There was no significant risk involved in discussing the process and "it's not any secret," said Tucker. The information is already readily available on the Internet and on the street. A YouTube search on how to make crack cocaine resulted in close to 6,000 results. "I don't think it's going to increase or decrease current use," said Sandra Danco, current executive director at Our Place. She agrees with the police that the video informs the public. As of Thursday, which was Thank a Cop Day, the video had slightly over 80 views. Victoria Police's YouTube channel was created last November. Most videos are of the weekly press conferences, which typically get about 50 views. Thirty-three people or groups subscribe to the channel. - --- MAP posted-by: Matt