| Opinion Volume 80 Issue No. 7 TTT TTT { ri OKAY — YA CAUGHT ME. So Rising crime rate: Cee ne ONE eat T'U PROMISE NoT To STEAL OR Get to the root of the problem TRASH ANYTHING... AFTER I'M OLD SMH A skyrocketing increase in residential break-ins and vandal- : é ism offenses, along with several recent events involving ENOUGH For ADULT COURT... weapons, demonstrates that the criminal element of society cannot be avoided on the Peninsula. | : Gg, ° \ One man is shot in the abdomen with a shotgun at close range 1 Zp during a late-night party. Drugs, and people under the influence | of drugs, were observed prior to the violence. | | ; A black Camosun College student living in Sidney is aio threatened with a 9-mm pistol after three men forced their way into his apartment. White-supremist slogans are painted on the a back wall of a Sidney convenience store. | Two men, their faces covered with ski masks, threaten a Brentwood gas station employee with a crowbar and a tire iron, T. \ ead before running with stolen money and cigarettes. Three men driving a stolen car fail to stop for police and speed through Brentwood Bay before running the car off the road and fleeing into the bush. A loaded shotgun is found in the back seat. Surrey’s got nothing on Sidney, local police have said. At a recent meeting of the B.C Criminal Justice Assosiation, one Lower Mainland police chief cited many causes for increases in crime. His comments brought the realization that the Peninsula’s problem is shared by many and its cause is fueled by a combination of failing social values and an unworkable, overburdened justice system. “Social factors remain, as always, the basic causative reason behind most of our community problems,” said Chief Patrick Wilson of Delta, who is responsible for policing an area not unlike the Peninsula. “Our young people, in addition to facing difficulties and alienation in adapting and fitting into a fast-moving society, look to the material needs, which leads to money, liquor — and for the last 20 years — addictive drugs,’ Wilson said. Police deal with the same young people repeatedly. Many - offenders see the justice system as a revolving door — weak, ineffective and an easy system to beat or outsmart, Wilson said. The impact is serious at the community level. The attitude carries through the judicial system and is recognized and capitalized upon by defendants and defense counsel. Crown counsel finds it harder to prosecute, it takes longer to prepare cases and pressure is put on police for expert and extensive investigation that sometimes borders on the extreme. Because of the high number of repeat offenders, combined with a high number of youth involved in crime, some authorities believe it will just get worse as young criminals get older, graduating to more serious crime. Wilson says the only real defense is for the judicial system and the community to get more involved with the youth of our community. Although not all serious-crime is commiteed by youth, that’s where the problem starts. No longer are youths involved in stealing apples from the neighbor’s tree, or pinching peanuts from the bulk foods section of the local grocer. Now, youths break into houses, even with people home. Often, they carry weapons. When caught, they laugh in the face of the justice system, confident they wil receive sentences under six months, with a period of probation that really means nothing. We believe the best way to fight major crime is to start at the root of the problem — nipping young criminals in the bud before they grow up to become seasoned, gun-toting assailants. Basic changes to the criminal justice system are needed. Our federal politicians are alone with the responsibility to introduce legislation allowing courts to prosecute youths as adults. The Young Offenders Act should only protect youths on first offense. The only way the system can be changed is for citizens to send a clear messaage to federal politicians that they won't be held hostage any longer. It’s time to get tough. TheReview Wednesday, February 12,1992 — A6 = goo The Review Serving the Saanich Peninsula Since 1912 9726 - First St. P.O. Box 2070 Sidney, B.C. V8L3C9 — Sidney, B.C. V8L3S5 656-1151 Publisher: Rory McGrath Editor: Glenn Werkman Reporters: Valorie Lennox Advertising: Brian Wyatt Girard Hengen Corrie Morozoti Production Manager: Tamie Sargeant Office Manager: Lori Fitzpatrick Circulation Manager: Wendy Denison AN ISLAND PUBLISHERS NEWSPAPER SI CCNA 4 BCYGNA