CRACK FILM POSTING DEFENDED BY POLICE

A Victoria Police Department video on how to make crack cocaine has
drawn criticism as being inappropriate.

The department posted the 55-second video on its YouTube channel on
Wednesday. The film shows Victoria Police drug expert Conor King
explaining the process of turning the powder form of cocaine into
crack, the rock.

The department used Twitter to publicize the video, which prompted
Twitter account user @Tchewpoy to question why the police are showing
people how to cook up the street drug.

Prominent street worker Rev. Al Tysick was also critical.

The message came across that it's easy to make and can be done almost
anywhere, said the former executive director of Our Place.

"For the most vulnerable kids out there, there might be some issues
that I'd have concerns with as a parent," said Tysick.

"That video won't make a difference one way or another on the street
.. but I care about our younger generation."

The video is intended to be informative, said Mike Tucker, Victoria
Police spokesman.

If someone sees a neighbour throwing out 30 empty boxes of baking soda
each month, they might get suspicious and call the police, Tucker
said.

"People think of a cook house and they think of some clandestine
laboratory," he said.

The video shows that crack can be cooked in a regular kitchen and was
released in the wake of a raid on a James Bay house, where police
seized $30,000 in cocaine.

Tucker said the video leaves out key details like measurements, how to
heat the drug and at what temperature.

There was no significant risk involved in discussing the process and
"it's not any secret," said Tucker.

The information is already readily available on the Internet and on
the street.

A YouTube search on how to make crack cocaine resulted in close to
6,000 results.

"I don't think it's going to increase or decrease current use," said
Sandra Danco, current executive director at Our Place. She agrees with
the police that the video informs the public.

As of Thursday, which was Thank a Cop Day, the video had slightly over
80 views.

Victoria Police's YouTube channel was created last November. Most
videos are of the weekly press conferences, which typically get about
50 views.

Thirty-three people or groups subscribe to the channel.