Legislative Electronic Publications -- New Resources, Stronger Law Designed To Target Problem Properties For Public Safety

Manitoba Government News Release:
Information Services, Room 29, Legislative Building, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 0V8 Telephone: (204)
945-3746 Fax: (204) 945-3988

March 09, 2006

NEW RESOURCES, STRONGER LAW DESIGNED TO TARGET PROBLEM PROPERTIES FOR PUBLIC SAFETY
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Government Takes Aim at Meth Labs, Prohibited Weapons, Child Sexual Exploitation Houses: Mackintosh

Under proposals introduced today, provincial legislation that helps shut down drug, sniff and prostitution houses would be expanded to include a broader range of disruptive activities and more teams will be added to enforce the law, Attorney General Gord Mackintosh has announced.

Two investigators and a surveillance video analyst will be added to the Public Safety Investigations (PSI) unit to look into complaints under both the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act (SCNA) and the Fortified Buildings Act.

The SCNA makes property owners accountable for certain very specific activities that continually threaten safety and security in Manitoba neighbourhoods. It uses the civil law process to target properties where drugs are sold or used, alcohol is sold without a licence, sniff is made available and prostitution-related activities are taking place.

"These kinds of activities affect the quality of life in our neighbourhoods, depriving people of a sense of security and the ability to take pride in where they live," said Mackintosh. "PSI teams provide real support to the grassroots efforts of Manitobans who want to keep their neighbourhoods safe from these activities."

Expanding the scope of the act would add a wider range of disruptive activities engaged in by gangs and others. Proposed changes would add places where it is believed that the following activities are habitually occurring:

drugs and controlled substances are being produced including meth labs;
activities related to child sexual abuse or exploitation are taking place;
explosives are being stockpiled or stored illegally;
stolen, illegally smuggled or sawed-off rifles or shotguns are being stored; or
illegally possessed handguns or machine guns are being stored.

Amendments to the act would not apply to registered or unregistered rifles or shotguns that are not stolen, sawed-off or illegally smuggled.

PSI investigators have extensive experience in dealing with crimes involving criminal organizations, drugs and the trafficking of sniff. It is expected the new staff will be trained and in place by this fall, adding to the number of teams available to investigate complaints.

A total of 150 drug, prostitution and sniff-related operations across the province have been shut down under the SCNA since February 2002. Landlords have co-operated with investigators in all but one case.

The PSI has also forced the removal of unreasonable fortifications at 14 properties under the Fortified Buildings Act. The legislation allows orders forcing the removal of barricades and other obstacles that could pose a risk to public safety by interfering with an emergency responder or law enforcement official’s ability to access a building.

Complaints about problem properties can be made in confidence to PSI at 1430 - 405 Broadway and by calling 945-3475 or (toll-free) 1-800-954-9361.

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BACKGROUND INFORMATION

PUBLIC SAFETY INVESTIGATIONS

More than 150 problem properties have been dealt with by the Public Safety Investigations (PSI) unit under both the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act (SCNA) and the Fortified Buildings Act.
PSI work has helped lead to more than 90 police arrests.
Several marijuana grow operations, some valued as high as $1.4 million, have been discovered as a result of PSI surveillance.
The unit has only had to resort to court action in one case and successfully worked with property owners to resolve problems in every other closure.

CASES INCLUDE:

1) Ten-year problem property closed

In 2002, PSI received complaints about an address believed to be a very active crack house. The address had a rich history of criminal activity including shootings, assaults, drug trafficking and arsons. It had been in operation for roughly 10 years. The address was also known to be home to members of a particular street gang. PSI surveillance on the address recorded more than 100 individuals buying drugs there. The Winnipeg Police Service was consulted and conducted a criminal investigation of its own. As a result, police arrested six men for trafficking cocaine. For its part, PSI applied for and was granted a community safety order which resulted in the house being boarded up for 90 days and the closure of this long-term drug operation. It has not reopened.

2) Brothel shut down

A complaint was received by PSI regarding prostitution-related activities taking place in a house. PSI contacted the Morals Unit of the Winnipeg Police Service and parallel investigations were conducted. PSI investigators observed and videotaped evidence revealing more than 30 people going to the house to engage in prostitution-related activities. The Winnipeg Police Service charged five adults with prostitution-related Criminal Code Offences and the owner and operator was convicted. As a result of the joint investigations, the brothel was closed. It had been in operation for more than nine years, despite previous police criminal and bylaw prosecutions.

3) Drug and prostitution activities with minors halted

Complaints were received by PSI alleging that drug trafficking and prostitution-related activity was taking place at an address. Information indicated young girls were being given crack until addicted, then put on the street as sex-trade workers. Surveillance confirmed that both activities were taking place. PSI contacted the Winnipeg Police Service Child Abuse Unit which conducted a parallel investigation. Evidence provided by PSI helped police identifying a number of under-age female sex-trade workers as victims. Several arrests were made by WPS in connection with this complaint including a female adult charged with a number of prostitution-related offences such as procuring, living off the avails and corrupting the morals of minors. The operation was shut down.

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