Working To Find Solutions for Problems at 3rd and George
Prince George, B.C. – “If there is an area that has come to our attention it is the area of 3rd and George” says RCMP Superintendent Warren Brown.
“It happens to be an area where vulnerable people need to be” says Supt. Brown because of the access to a variety of health and social services located within a small area.
Between 2011 and 2015, there has been a 22% increase in calls for service to that area. January of this year has already seen a 7% increase in criminal activity in that area. That may be in part because the local RCMP detachment has made an effort to have increased police presence in that area, however, Supt. Brown says the downtown unit has not had the support it should because of staffing shortages.
“Many people with addictions may require $100 a day to satisfy their addictions, some may need $500 a day, and these are people who don’t work. For females, they may be involved in the sex trade, and the risks that are associated with that” says Supt. Brown. But one thing is clear says Supt. Brown “We can’t arrest our way out of this”. He says many of the infractions involve what are considered nuisance charges and he wonders if the Court system would even want to move forward with charges “We have to find a new way of doing business” says Supt. Brown. He says adopting an Aboriginal Court model, which incorporates traditional cultural factors in dealing with certain offenders may be part of the solution.
He says the local RCMP detachment is working with stakeholders to find solutions and has asked the community to be patient, “Not only patient in a sense that we’re going to reduce crime in the area, but also in the way that we are doing everything we can to take a collaborative approach to identify a better way of doing business.”
Comments
Superintendent Warren Brown you always seem to come back to staffing shortages for your reason why you can’t do more I believe this to be true on your part. My question and I think a lot of people in the community would like to know is how many fully paid RCMP members are on stress leave and on maternity leave and also on desk duty that take them off the streets. And why the federal government is not filling the spots on their dime until Prince George has a full staff that can work the streets and look after the problem.
If you have a heart, you have to feel sorry for these people. They are trapped in modern day slavery and without a lot of help there is no way to break the chains. Their drug dealer demands $100-$500 per day. Many have to steal to meet these demands. It’s a big drain on our economy.
Imagine if this was 200 years ago and there was one race enslaving another. The situation was terrible. Slave owners were free to demand sex from their slaves. Living conditions for slaves were no better than living on the streets today. Many were abused and died in bondage. All to make someone else rich.
Many of us would feel outraged if it were suggested that we return to that social model. Yet if we really think about it–this is exactly what we have today. Hard drugs turn people into modern day slaves–drug slaves.
We have a big social issue in Prince George. More than 10,000 people are registered with the needle exchange program. Many can hold down a full time job, pay their slave master, and appear to have a normal life. Unfortunately many cannot.
Some would say round up the drug slaves and put them in jail–they are breaking the law… They are criminals. Some might say maybe they should ride at the back of the bus. Put these slaves out of sight and out of mind.
People that would say this have no heart. Indeed they may be narcissistic –they cannot put the needs of the community ahead of their own.
Some may say these drug slaves chose this life. Maybe. Some may have chosen to get high on weed. From time to time the drug lords need new slaves and choose to coat the weed in crystal meth or crack cocaine to saddle an unsuspecting victim with a life of drug slavery, often picking the most needy and marginalized people in society. Once shackled, it is next to impossible to break the chains.
But these drug slaves are people–human beings. Many grew up in our community and went to our schools.
It broke my heart one day when a street person–a drug slave–stopped me near Spruceland and asked for money. At first I turned my back on him. But he called out to me. He knew my name. I had to turn around and face him. I didn’t recognize the man at first… His face was badly scarred likely from many fights and years of street living. How could he know my name? But after a few moments of talking, I remembered. We used to play together as children… We went to cub scouts together and were in the same classes at school. I broke down and cried. I was ashamed at myself and hurt to see an old friend in this situation.
These people need our help. There are proven solutions. Harm reduction is one of those possible solutions. Needle exchange programs, methadone prescriptions, and counseling are part of these solutions.
Sadly, some don’t want these solutions because it might mean that they have to see a drug slave on the street from time to time. Some can’t see people–they only see animals. I pity them and pray that one day they will too will have an experience like I had that day at Spruceland.
Window, you must be mistaken about the drug dealers coating weed with meth or crack. I made the same comment last week and was set straight by P Val who has it on good authority that this does not happen, drug dealers only sell the highest quality product with their customers well being on their mind.
Well written and spot on, Window. You evidently have compassion for your fellow man, too many people are quick to judge, and judge harshly.
To those who judge harshly the addicted and the mentally ill, shame on you. The people you despise are your neighbour, friend, or family member, maybe one day, yourself.
They deserve a break.
metalman.
OMG, Supt Brown said Aboriginal! Talk about racial profiling!! You can’t say that in these politically correct times no matter how true it is, people can’t handle the truth anymore!! I recall a beat Cop in Vancouver said there is a problem with Asian gangs, did he ever take heat for that.
Wellll we are on their land.. I would hope there is quite a few of them still occupying their Territory
If our society does not have the determination, guts and resources to go after the real criminal scums – the dealers/suppliers – nothing will ever change! There is the story in Greek mythology about the many headed monster which grew nine new heads every time one head was cut off! Only by slaying the entire monster was the problem finally solved.
In some countries dealers have their hands or heads cut off. We do not do that here, but we can decide to get very tough and put them behind (uncomfortable) bars for as long as necessary – until they decide to reform themselves and if released become worthwhile law abiding members of our society.
Heck, you don’t even go to jail in Canada for cutting off someone’s head let alone sell drugs..
Simple solution. Give them all fentanyl and they will go away …
Posted on Tuesday, June 14, 2016 @ 7:11 AM by not-so-random with a score of 4
Simple solution. Give them all fentanyl and they will go away …
I hope for your sake that one of your children never find themselves in this situation – or will you still be so cavalier about just killing them off?
I’m not too worried about that.
notsorandom You don’t sound like a person I could like, but I sincerely hope that addiction never claims a loved one of your own.
metalman.
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