Pubdate: Thu, 09 Feb 2012
Source: Now, The (Surrey, CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 Canwest Publishing Inc.
Contact:  http://www.thenownewspaper.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1462
Author: Amy Reid

GROW-OP CRACKDOWN WORKING WONDERS: CITY

SFU Criminology Prof Says Growers Are Likely Setting Up Shop in Other Cities

Grow-ops in Surrey are down by almost 82 per cent, say city officials.

Surrey's Electrical Fire Safety Inspection (EFSI) program, which 
started in 2005, is being credited for reducing the number of 
confirmed marijuana grow-ops in the city.

The city's EFSI team includes representation from Surrey Fire 
Service, RCMP, electrical inspections and bylaw enforcement.

There were 445 confirmed grow-ops in Surrey in 2007 through the EFSI 
program, which was down to 82 in 2011, a drop of 81.6 per cent.

Mayor Dianne Watts said "thousands" of operations have been shut down.

"We're providing an administrative solution to the problem of 
marijuana grow operations, instead of relying solely on the criminal 
justice system," Watts said in a press release.

But is it possible Surrey just isn't locating as many grow-ops?

"It's certainly a possibility," said SFU criminology professor Martin 
Bouchard, who specializes in marijuana and illegal drug markets. But 
it's far more likely that growers are simply noticing Surrey's 
crackdown and moving to nearby cities, he said.

The annual EFSI report that went to Surrey council Feb. 6 said a 
large number of EFSI files come through receiving high electricity 
consumption data from BC Hydro, a process adopted by the province in 2006.

By February of 2008, the EFSI team noticed a major decrease in the 
number of highconsumption files they were being forwarded, said the report.

Bouchard said there are ways marijuana growers can outsmart the 
high-energy identifier.

"It's quite easy for growers to monitor what they're doing," he said. 
"For example, a smalltime grow-op can probably handle a big lamp, a 
big light and have a few plants, no problem. Each time (growers) try 
for a bigger grow op, they know they're risking going over the threshold.

Growers will also try to steal electricity, and have an electrician 
come and bypass the hydro."

But it's more likely that growers are simply moving to a different 
area, Bouchard said.

He said that historically, any time there's an intervention on a drug 
market, there's adaptation.

"Knowing that it's going on in Surrey and Surrey only, we can assume 
that growers will just go to the next city. Growers are just going to 
react and know that in New Westminster or Burnaby, that's not the 
case, and move there.

There's no problem for them in doing that because they're not relying 
on their customers to be nearby," Bouchard said.

"Growers have told me that. Especially if they know there's a 
crackdown somewhere. I think I buy into Surrey's decrease as being 
genuine. It's possible that (growers are) getting smarter, but part 
of being smarter is moving away from Surrey."

Bouchard said when growers feel the heat, a small percentage of them 
are deterred from setting up shop elsewhere.

"Some growers may stop, thinking it's not worth it. They may have 
experienced a robbery, a rip-off one year, then another year the fire 
department knocks on the door and shuts down the grow-op, they may 
have lost a lot of money and decide to move onto something else.

"Those types of deterrents may work for a minority of them, but for 
others it will simply cause displacement to another city," Bouchard 
said. "Because it's a drug market, because there's money to be made, 
it's very difficult to deter people."

'it's Up to the other cities'

He said the work the City of Surrey is doing appears to be working.

"Now, it's probably up to the other cities to do something about that."

Bouchard also commended the EFSI program for putting safety concerns 
at the forefront.

"It's truly dangerous what's going on when this is unchecked," 
Bouchard said. "As far as reducing the safety hazards in Surrey, it 
may have worked, and good for Surrey."

Surrey fire chief Len Garis said the EFSI program has made a difference.

"Surrey's EFSI program has contributed to a significant decline in 
residential fires throughout the city," Garis said.

 From March 2005 to December 2011, the EFSI program has resulted in 
1,461 locations being rendered safe with respect to electrical safety 
issues and 1,005 locations had the power cut off.

NO COST TO SURREY TAXPAYERS

Deputy Fire Chief Jon Caviglia said the program has been successful 
and the department has noticed a drop in grow-op fires.

Deputy Fire Chief Dan Barnscher, in charge of EFSI, said fees imposed 
on inspections make the program self-sufficient.

"It does not cost taxpayers of Surrey one penny," Barnscher said. 
"We're still going strong."

In an effort to keep grow-ops from resurfacing in the city or 
elsewhere in the region, Surrey is also advocating for strategies 
such as regulation of the sale of high-wattage hydroponics equipment 
and an increase in tax audits of illegal drug production income 
through sharing of information between local and federal authorities.

The EFSI program is expected to process six to 10 files a week in 
2012, primarily generated from hydro consumption data and RCMP Crime 
Stoppers tips.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom