Drug House Closed Under Province, Police

A North Sydney neighbourhood is safer and more secure today, May 31, after the province and Cape Breton Regional Police closed a home.

Justice Cindy Bourgeois granted an order to vacate a property at 17 Lorne St., under the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act, ruling on May 17 that the evidence showed it had been extensively used for drug trafficking. Today the property was shut down. The property will be closed for 90 days, beginning today at noon.

"All of our neighbourhoods in Nova Scotia should be safe and secure places for us and our families," said Justice Minister Ross Landry. "The Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act gives community members the power to help fight crime in their neighbourhoods. I encourage people to call Safer Communities team whenever they notice a problem property."

People can report a problem property by calling, toll free, 1-877-357-2337.

The Cape Breton Regional Police Service have searched the house many times and laid numerous charges on the occupants of the house.

"By targeting drug crime like this, we are working to make our communities safer," said Sgt. Kevin Gillis of Cape Breton Regional Police Service. "By shutting down this property, we hope neighbours and citizens in the area will now feel a stronger sense of security."

There have been more than 700 complaints since the act began in 2007. Including the North Sydney closure, there have been eight formal evictions using community safety orders. There have also been more than 122 voluntary evictions.

The Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods team improves community safety by targeting and, if necessary, shutting down residential and commercial buildings and land that are regularly used for illegal activities.

Illegal activities identified in the act include bootlegging, drugs, prostitution and illegal gaming.

More information on the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act can be found at www.gov.ns.ca/just .