Woodstock police credit federal funds for lower crime

Woodstock Police are crediting a federally-funded program for shutting down at least one suspected drug dealer in the western New Brunswick town.

Woodstock is coping with a methamphetamine problem in the town. The highly addictive and potentially toxic chemical compound is a growing problem in rural areas all across the country.

Woodstock Police are pushing back against the drug dealers and recently carried out two drug raids in the town.

They are seeing some small successes, particularly with the help of the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Unit.

A unit operates under civil law and it allows citizens to issue letters that can then be followed by evictions and building seizures.

Woodstock Police Cpl. Carter Stone said the unit caused one suspected drug dealer soon moved out. It was help, Stone said, the town’s police force was glad to have.

"Sometimes they can do things that we can't do, by law, so it's really another great tool that's available, not only for us, but for the public," Stone said.

The Safer Communities and Neighbourhood Unit was a help in dealing with the suspected drug dealer. But Stone said the problem is the unit is federally funded and that cash runs out in March.

According to the Department of Public Safety, the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act gives citizens a civil process to shut down properties where people believe illegal activities are taking place

The government department says the illegal activities may include, drug dealing, prostitution, child sexual abuse or unlawful gaming.

The civil process is a help for a small town where police services are provided by only 14 full-time officers. Stone said the Woodstock force does not have a separate drug unit.

Stone said officers can end up dealing with everything from a barking dog to a homicide.