For immediate release

Grow house hazards placing Hamilton's children at risk

HAMILTON, August 8, 2002

HAMILTON -- The Children's Aid Society of Hamilton (CAS) warns that pot-growing parents and caregivers are endangering the lives of their children and placing them at great risk of physical and emotional harm.

"Children are the unfortunate victims in these situations," says Dominic Verticchio, executive director of the CAS of Hamilton. "Grow houses are not safe environs for children and they pose a risk for neighbours, as well as others, who are visiting the area or work nearby."

On average, Hamilton CAS child protection workers are called out two to three times per month to assist Hamilton Police Service officers who encounter children living in grow houses. In the majority of these cases, the parents or caregivers have been arrested and the children are taken into the care of the Society.

The risk of children becoming ill or injured in these surroundings is of great concern to us, Mr. Verticchio said. "Child protection workers have come across children living in quarters that were time bombs; these are accidents just waiting to happen."

In recent months, workers have attended to children living in apartments and houses that contained exposed live wires, make-shift hydro hook-ups, mouldy dry wall, huge holes in floor boards to increase air flow, overheated fluorescent lamps, stock piles of chemicals and propane heaters.

Workers also worry about the emotional toll on youngsters who are separated from their family and sometimes siblings, following the arrests of parents or caregivers.

"There is the additional concern for those children who are drawn in to help cultivate the crop or act as lookouts," says Mr. Verticchio. "Sadly, some have become acclimatized to this criminal environment, while others live in constant fear that they are 'going to jail' because they know that what their parents or caregivers are doing is illegal."

The Society is calling upon members of the community to help reduce the risk to children by picking up the telephone and reporting to police possible locations of grow houses.

"Each of us has a responsibility for the welfare and safety of our children in this community," says Mr. Verticchio. "The public has an obligation to report these operations promptly, especially if they suspect that a child is or may be in need of assistance and protection."

He warns that members of the public should not place themselves in any compromising position while obtaining information about grow operations.

There are a number of indicators that people can use to spot a grow house:
· Windows are covered in dark plastic or heavy curtains and blinds to prevent the escape of hydroponics light;
· Heavy condensation can be seen on the windows;
· Sounds of electrical humming, fans and trickling water;
· Unexplained power surges or power browning;
· Unusual visitor behaviour when compared to other homes in the neighbourhood;
· Outdoor/indoor lights, radio and/or television operating 24 hours a day;
· Flyers left in the mailbox or on the ground at the front door;
· Children's toys outside with no children living or seen at the residence. .

To report a possible grow house location, call 905-546-4925 or Hamilton Police Service Drug Office at 905-546-3883. If you wish to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 905-522-TIPS (8477).

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For more information, please contact:
Dianne Pearson
Manager of Communications & Development
905-522-1121 ext. 2110

Detective Mark Petkoff
Hamilton Police Service
Drug and Vice Office
905-546-3885