The Windsor Police Service is urging citizens and municipal leaders to join police in addressing the growing threat to public safety and economic loss posed by indoor marihuana grow operations in Ontario, in light of a major new study released yesterday by the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police.(OACP)  The study reveals that so-called "grow ops" cost consumers millions of dollars in stolen electricity, and higher insurance costs.

Commercial marihuana grow operations are located in urban and rural communities, including residential areas.  They are largely controlled by organized crime, endanger children and their families and cost our economy millions of dollars in stolen electricity.  "We need everyone's help in stopping this menace to our community," says Chief Glenn Stannard.

Chief Stannard expressed concern, that organized crime seems to be fueling the expansion of marihuana grow ops.  "These criminal groups are well organized, well financed and ruthless in their business.  I'll be seeking commitments from our elected officials and business leaders to help us educate people and develop ways in which we can stop the spread of marihuana grow ops in our community."

Highlights of the OACP report include:

• As many as 10,000 children and their families may have been raised living in grow houses and tending these plants-between 2000 and 2003.  Often recent immigrants, they are exposed to health and safety risks and physical violence associated with these operations.

• In 2002, Ontario's already strained electricity sector may have lost $85 million to illegal electricity theft associated with grow operations.

• The likelihood of a fire in a grow op dwelling may be as much as 40 times greater than a regular household.

• Grow operations are increasingly found near schools and residential neighborhoods.  In York, Peel and Waterloo regions combined, 17 per cent of grow ops were within 500 metres of a primary or secondary school.

• Locally, the Windsor Police Service have dismantled 39 grow ops this year, compared to a total of  44 in 2002.

-30-