Newest red zone pays off instantly

By Roger Knox - Vernon Morning Star - May 30, 2008

Vernon RCMP have created a second downtown red zone in an effort to curb criminal activity. The new zone covers an area from 30th Avenue to the north; east to 32nd Street; south to 25th Avenue, and west to 35th Street. Sentences against criminals can include a condition that states if they are found to be in this particular zone, they can be arrested again. Or they can be released on conditions that prevent them from returning to the zone until their court cases are concluded. “We’ve been meeting with provincial and federal Crown counsels since earlier, and we came to an understanding of a zone that will be utilized for our next test case,” said Vernon RCMP Insp. Steve McVarnock. Test day came on Tuesday. Four people were arrested Wednesday after the Community Response Unit did a small drug operation in the area of the People Place, Upper Room Mission and surrounding businesses.

As a result of the sting, a 36-year-old Vernon female is expected to face charges of trafficking. A 58-year-old Vernon male will be facing charges of trafficking and possession of stolen property, and a 41-year-old Vernon female is expected to face charges of possession of stolen property. A fourth male is expected to face drug possession charges. All four suspects were released and are expected to appear in court at a later date. Two of the four were arrested for trafficking within the new red zone boundaries, but were released on conditions that prevent them from returning to this area until their court cases are concluded. Vernon first established a red zone near Cenotaph Park in 2007 with great results. “That zone is working very well,” said McVarnock. “We have seen a significant change in the amount of criminal activity since it was established. We hope this new zone will also have a significant impact.“Time will tell.”

McVarnock states that creating red zones is not “a magic pill for the city.”“What happens is, the criminals are displaced from this area and they move to another coordinate around the city,” he said.
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Don Quixote Note: I have often sat next to a reporter for this newspaper who lives in Coldstream and in jest have suggested that Vernon extend the Red Zone to the Vernon Boundaries so as to leave the rest of Greater Vernon (Coldstream and areas B and C) with this problem.