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Reporting a Suspected Drug House Booklet
Ridge Meadows RCMP are uncovering more drug houses thanks to a unique partnership with neighbours. Crime-prevention co-ordinator Sharleen Verhulst has developed a booklet to help residents spot signs of marihuana cultivation, methamphetamine fabrication or drug trafficking.
Crime statistics indicate the number of drug houses discovered by Ridge Meadows RCMP has risen dramatically in recent years. In 1998, police dismantled 91 marihuana-grow operations in the area compared with 47 in 1997 and 18 in 1993. Drug operations are often linked to property crimes and crimes of violence. Residents usually launch complaints because of constant noise, traffic and odours associated with drug houses. The courts still call marihuana operations a "victimless offence", although they can greatly disrupt the day-to-day lives of neighbours.
The booklet was developed to list common characteristics of home-based drug operations: people and vehicles constantly coming and going; dark coverings over the windows; unusual or modified wiring on the outside of the home; hoses running from doors or windows; growing equipment and supplies seen but no garden or flowers evident; visitors parking down the street and walking to the home.
The package was designed with information provided by the drug section and local Crown attorneys. The major partner in this initiative is the community in general.
Once the booklets are distributed throughout the community, residents fill out information about a suspected drug house, and return the booklet to Sharleen Verhulst for evaluation. She will call residents to acknowledge receipt of the information and explain how police will proceed with it. There will also be a follow up if residents provide inconclusive information. If the information does point to a possible drug operation, the booklet is turned over to the drug section. They'll check for previous complaints at that address, run license plate numbers to see if that turns up any known individuals. This information may help the drug section to proceed with surveillance. The booklet gives more information to work with and also gives residents ownership over the problem. Reaction from Crown attorneys, police and residents have been positive, and the detachment is already getting better information.
The Ridge Meadows RCMP drug section also keeps track of how many convictions, and what sentences, result from the information received and report the statistics to the public at the end of the year.
The Ridge Meadows RCMP booklet helps residents identify suspected drug operations, helps neighbours write a victim impact statement and provide the drug section with the information needed to investigate. To have a hard copy of the booklet, please contact Sharleen Verhulst directly and allow time for replies.
Crime-prevention co-ordinator
Sharleen Verhulst,
Ridge Meadows RCMP
British Columbia
(604) 467-7644
Download
booklet in PDF (Adobe Acrobat) format
