Centre for Public Safety and Criminal Justice Research
Marihuana growing operations are an enduring crime and social problem for British Columbia. At the end of the 20th Century, the province had witnessed a surge in the number of marihuana growing operations coming to the attention of police forces. Growing in sophistication and increasingly moving indoors into residential neighbourhoods to avoid detection by law … Read more
This document examines the feasibility of creating a National Fire Information Database for Canada. In pursuing this, we examined what data are currently collected and the structure of organizations responsible for maintaining national databases in other countries. Because of the allocation of jurisdictional responsibilities relating to the services provided by fire departments in Canada, creating, … Read more
Communities across British Columbia are conducting safety inspections of suspected marihuana grow operations and clandestine drug labs to address the health and safety hazards associated with these sites, including fire, unsafe structural alterations, illegal and unsafe wiring, mould and chemical spills. Marihuana grow operations are 24 times more likely to catch fire than a typical … Read more
Both hobbyist gardeners and criminals who cultivate marihuana use the same types of high-powered hydroponic equipment in a residential setting, with no monitoring by authorities. The equipment’s power requirements (e.g., 1,000-watt bulbs and transformers) exceed a typical home’s electrical capacity, and therefore require professional installation. However, due to a lack of regulation, this installation is … Read more
The purpose of this research note is to describe the population of individuals arrested by BC Transit Police officers on outstanding warrants. This analysis is based on the 606 arrests for outstanding warrants made by BC Transit Police officers in 2011. Of these 606 arrests, 72% were as a result of officers simply doing fare … Read more
The Surrey Fire Service introduced an Attendance Management Program (AMP) in 2003 to reduce employee absenteeism. The program outlines a procedure for managing unsatisfactory staff attendance, using a series of progressive steps that include letters, counseling and positive reinforcement. The first of its kind in the province, the program was a response to a gradual … Read more
Recently, Vancouver architect, Michael Green, issued a report entitled Tall Wood, arguing that skyscrapers and other tall buildings should use more wood as a primary construction material. His argument is that wood is up to the task, is less polluting, and is more environmentally sustainable than the materials currently used. Green’s (2012) buildings would employ … Read more
The Marihuana Medical Access Regulations (MMAR), which are currently administered by Health Canada, permit Canadians access to marihuana for medical use provided they have been deemed to require this medical treatment by a physician. The MMAR enable individuals to grow marihuana for themselves, empower a third- party to grow marihuana on their behalf, or purchase … Read more
The purpose of this study was to examine fire-related casualties, fire outcomes, and casualty behaviour for fires that occurred in residential properties, and to compare fires that occurred in buildings completely protected by sprinkler systems with those fires that occurred in buildings without any sprinkler protection.
Although it is estimated that less than 0.3% of Canadian vehicles currently on the roads are fuelled by propane, there is a growing policy concern regarding the fire-and-safety risks posed by storing these vehicles in the common parking areas of multi-residential buildings.