The more calls police get about suspicious activity at a particular house, the better chance they have of going in the front door to check on it.
However, it takes more than one or even multiple phone calls to satisfy the requirements for a search warrant. Prince George RCMP spokeswoman Const. Lesley Smith said certain criteria has to be met to impress a judge or justice of the peace to grant police that document of permission to storm a door. Sometimes it is a home nobody in the neighbourhood suspected, but mostly they take action on places well known by the surrounding residents.
"It is a slow process because we have to gather intelligence and evidence and have enough grounds to establish a search warrant and get that granted," she explained.
Public complaints have been issued by those who say they phone police to report a crackshack or a marijuana grow-operation and the police don't respond for sometimes several days. Isn't a call about a drug house enough?
"No, that is not enough. It is the first step in a process," said Smith. "The No. 1 indicator of a drug house is the coming and going of a lot of traffic, both on foot and in vehicles. If we get that call, we can focus on that residence and get more specific information that will be acceptable for a search warrant, so it will stand up in court when we do go in. We are just doing our homework so it will stand up in court."
The more calls police get about the same house, the better. So much the better if observant residents can also provide license numbers of vehicles, descriptions of habitual visitors to the home, any especially suspicious activity, and especially if a threat of violence comes to light.
If landlords are co-operative, there is much more police can do, quicker, Smith said. Even that can take time unless a threat is perceived. Imminent violence usually accelerates the process.
"There is continuous change among these gangs, and without our help retaliation is inevitable for those trying to get out of a gang, or not paying their debts, and that can lead to violence inside and between our local gangs," Smith said.
A major law enforcement focus is unfolding on the gangs of Prince George, said Smith. She promised that their business is going to get a lot harder to conduct in B.C.'s northern capital.
"We are taking action and gathering intelligence, targeting individuals who are posing a threat to the community," she said. "The public has seen police action already this year against local gangs and they will see even more action against organized crime in Prince George. We need all the help from the public we can get."
Anyone with information about gangs, drugs, weapons, or any illegal activity is asked to contact Prince George RCMP at 250-561-3300 or anonymously give the information to Crime Stoppers (rewards available, even to those unnamed) at 1-800-222-TIPS / www.pgcrimestoppers.bc.ca.
