The next time you see him, take a moment to pity that poor drug dealer on the corner of Berri and Ste-Catherine.
Look at him, decked out in those oversized hip-hop jeans that hang on for dear life off his skinny white ass. He makes his living one dime bag at a time and has to hustle like hell to do it. He looks like he can barely afford his own Eminem affliction, let alone the layers of junk jewellery he heaps on himself and his girlfriend. Poor bastard.
And now, the cameras are coming.
It seems the local business owners and homeowner types have had enough of him and his kind, and persuaded the police to install security cameras in various spots around Berri metro station, as well as along Berri and St-Denis streets – the latter an avenue almost as treacherous and unstable as Baghdad, if you listen to what some area merchants are saying.
St-Denis between Sherbrooke and René-Lévesque is "the only spot in Quebec where drug trafficking is practiced openly, on the street," sniffed Richard Fradette, director of the Société de développement du Quartier latin, to La Presse last week. (This would be news to anyone living on Ontario Street between St-Hubert and Papineau, but I digress…)
Other merchants have complained that profligate drug use, vandalism and crime have scared their clients stiff. One fellow says he even has to run to and from his car when attending St-Denis Theatre, just to avoid the hoards of riff-raff. Poor bastard.
Whether any of this is true – and judging by the size and affluence of the crowds flocking to St-Denis Street in the summertime, you could make a good case that it isn’t – doesn’t really matter. The fact is, people are scared – scared of crime, scared of squeegee punks, scared of panhandlers, scared of spray paint and scared of difference.
So, as is common with scared people, they panic and do something wrongheaded, ineffective and dumb. In the process, they make things a little more perilous for the rest of us. These cameras, part of a four-month pilot program, are wrong, pure and simple.
Let’s see, where to start? Right. The drugs. Yes, there are drug dealers near Berri metro. Yes, they can be annoying – and, on rare occasions, dangerous. They are the reason the police and/or metro cops have one or more vans permanently affixed to the street corner outside the metro. Sometimes fights break out. Sometimes cars are vandalized. Often, arrests are made. Such is life.
But putting up cameras in front of the metro – and anywhere else, for that matter – punishes anyone else who walks by there. Yes, the police have sworn up and down that they’ll view the recorded tapes only in the case of an "incident," or if they are investigating a crime. But that means you have to trust the police, and so far they’ve refused to tell the public where, exactly, they’ll put these cameras, or how many there will be. It’s for our own protection, they say. Nor did they say exactly in what cases the tapes will be viewed. Is it drug dealing? Spray-painting? Begging? Skateboarding? No one knows.
Let’s be totally honest here for a moment. The area in question is hardly overrun by drug dealers. It does have more than its fair share of homeless people, street kids, skaters, punks and hangers on, though, and those cameras could indeed come in handy in identifying them, not to mention keeping tabs. The very act of installing cameras in a public place is an invitation for abuse, a way of trivializing something that should never be banal, or routine.
Here’s another group on which we should keep tabs and thoroughly punish. They cause 22 per cent of the deaths on Quebec roads, amounting to thousands of lost lives every year. They cause 17 per cent of serious injuries. They do so by speeding in their cars, something of which one in two Quebecers is guilty, according to the province’s insurance association. But the second you suggest photo radar, people scream Big Brother. An all-too-intrusive cash grab by the government, they say. As a result, photo radar will likely not be seen in Quebec for a long time, maybe never. Until then, people will continue speeding, and dying.
Why have surveillance cameras and not photo radar, you ask? Simple: People who drive have more clout than those who hang out in front of Berri metro for business and pleasure. Drug dealers – and the punks, squeegees, panhandlers and street kids who vastly outnumber them – are a voter-friendly problem that is easy to deal with: Just install cameras to placate the scared.
And what happens when those dealers are sufficiently scared enough to leave the area for another, less scrutinized neighbourhood? Not to worry, the Montreal police say. We have a contingency plan. Again, the police refused to elaborate, but it isn’t unthinkable that it will involve more cameras. And remember, the same police force had a contingency plan to deal with those hookers flushed out from the corner of St-Laurent and Ste-Catherine a few years back. The result? Those same hookers moved east, to poorer neighbourhoods. You see many of them near Berri metro station, oddly enough.
Here’s another fun fact about cameras: They don’t really work in the long term. Yes, they can help in smaller towns like Baie-Comeau and Sherbrooke, where there are few other places to run. But here in Montreal, we have 64 other metro stations – including a handful where foot traffic compares with that of Berri. The logical equation, then, isn’t more security. It’s more cameras.
And consider the sobering example of London. That city installed cameras on street corners in the late 1980s, in response to the many IRA bombings of the time. The result? Not one IRA bomber caught, though the bombings continued. To this day, the cameras remain. This in a country now seriously considering countrywide biometric identification cards.
Are surveillance cameras and these ID cards cause and effect? No. But the cameras sure set a nice precedent. It’s all for our own protection, after all.
Hence, these cameras, which will remain on the streets till the fall as part of a pilot project.
16 comments
I am totally shocked that your article is pro-criminals. I believe you left out a few things that I would like to add,” the piss,broken glass, profane language, rude behavior, inciting riots, indecent show of body parts, loud, dumping garbage on the ground, inhaling there second hand smoke, spitting, and last but not least “no respect for our policemen”.
People who are concern about camera’s at Berri Uqam should look around some more, big brother is everywhere, malls, depanneur, home’s, house’s, metro, theatre,etc…
Thanks to terrorisism big brother will be around forever, whether we like it or not.
The main reason for camera’s at Berri Uqam is “location” it is a main attraction and the most vibrant. Money,money,money is the goal here folks. Politicains are wise but do dumb things, YES, I do agree that it will push away the bad element to another area but why not take the extra mile to BLOW THEM AWAY!!! All they are doing now is dumping the garbage some place else.No one seems to have the money or the time to invest in these unforgotten creatures…right?
It really isn’t hard to clean up MONTREAL, just put them to work for the city,” Boy I have an idea”, When arrested for a petty crime don’t put them in jail with cable t.v., warm meal and a bed. HELL NO!!! Have them clean up their stink from the ground up, they like acting like animals I say let’s SHOW them what animals really do!!!
We all have anger over these species but we should always remember that it is better to give then receive, giving them coins from your pocket is only making matters worse but giving money to a shelter that can get these people on their feet is the best way to go.
Changes are never, never, never easy but given a choice on living in a place with or without camera’s, I chose security and peace of mind with my BIG BROTHER.
This is an excellent idea because I’m so sick and tired of the drug pushers at the Berri station. Every time I come out from that metro station they always ask me if I want drugs? Enough is enough. The Police in this city especially in the downtown area are so stupid that they do nothing about these people. I understand the guy running to his car because it is a scary place to walk after dark. I hope that this article makes a positive outcome for people of Montreal to do something about these sum bags that are poisoning people. The drug pusher is not a natural man.
What will happen here is so obvious: Once all the little cameras are in place and ready for duty, what will the dealers do? MOVE. And they won’t wait for July 1rst either. They will be pushed around until where they end up, the less important commercial streets and neighborhoods, the people won’t have enough weight to complain. They won’t start installing cameras in centre-sud Ontario, don’t you think. At least they will bring company to the street workers.
Whatever happened to right of privacy? Watever happened to the city by-law that it is illegal to take someone else’s picture in puublic unless you receive their permisssion. Once again the Montreal police get to legally break the law all in the name of public safety. Maybe if they quite sitting around Dunkin’ Doughnuts all the tiem sipping coffee and eating doughnuts instead of walking around and getting some fresh air and staying fit , and even God forbid, do their job, then the problem would subside with their presence. But again priorities got screwed up, which in turns screws the private citiizen and imposes on their rights.
Yes there are drug dealers and yes there are some that do bussiness near Berri. I agree with the article that whether we install cameras will not change the situation, yes it might change in the sense that they will move elsewhere and go bother other people who will then complaint. the point im trying to make is its not by placing cameras that the problem will go away. we need to look at the root of the problem and see what we can do for these poor drug dealers. Chances are the ones who are doing bussiness at street corners are not the ones that making big bucks. I would not be surprised if they are even dealing with an addiction themselves. I strongly believe our efforts should be placed in achieving the well beeing of everyone that lives in montreal including the ones that might need a bit more help like these poor drug dealers..!! and this will not be achived by placing cameras and playing with peoples privacy..
Whether you believe that putting up cameras is an invasion of privacy or not is besides the point in my opinion. It is a bad solution because it isn’t, just that, a solution.
It is a terrible stereotype to believe that drug dealers and prostitues are bad people, evil monsters there to disturb the peaceful citizens. Most of them have ended up where they are and believe there is no way out. I do not condone illegal activities but I don’t think that because you have not had it easy and are selling drugs or turning tricks at a metro station so you can get your daily fix, makes you a monster. The other thing is that stopping the 15 year old kid who is dealing dime bags will not elliminate drug consumption or even help to do so, not even a bit. Things will move to an other place, another kid will take his place and the big boss will continue to exploit and do his buisiness. Police should be concentrating on finding solutions and helping these kids to go home, go to school and get help.
The new cameras at the Berri station are long over due in my opinion I mean why do we allow such open and flagrant drug trade to be done on the corner of the street where thousands of people pass daily. The cameras I hope will cut down on all the people who flock the area to get their fix or to peddle some drugs.
Why is it when the normal world puts in effect a measure that is purely designed to make the public’s life a lot safer everyone screams that the police are once again steppin outside their limits. I mean come on this is ridiculous that the police are just going to sit and watch video footage 24/7 just to make a few little bust for posession or even skateboarding. The prime reason for these cameras is to help identify those that are breaking the law as to reduce the time that they will have to reoffend. Plain and simple drug dealers by berri may be some peoples last ditch effort to get that score but if you think about it they do not pay taxes on the products that they are selling you and in essence are cheating you because that means less money for the things that you also think that are importent like healthcare.
So lets think about this shall we the idea of cameras good because it will take some of the obvious drug trade off the front streets and make the area safer. I mean come on how many people hassle you on the way to the door of the metro to look at their goods or if you need some weed.
It’s all about learning. There are people who have not learned that these cameras will cost money Or that once the pushers move it will cost more money. There are people who haven’t learned that the real criminals wear suits and that they steal in the 100′s of millions range. There are people who have kids and cannot raise them. There are people who cannot learn from articles written a week ago on prescription drugs in this weekly. There are people who think war is a solution. There are people who cannot learn.
Kill them all… How about adults setting the example for these kids instead. Cameras what a farce! With the country’s leaders as role models I’m surprised these kids are just dealing drugs.
So I suggest we start from the top. Maybe the sponsorship scandal could have been prevented.
It would be so nice if we could eradicate misery in every country with something like this:
http://www.theembassyvfx.com/tetra_w_movie.html
Coming soon to your neighborhood.
ASK YOURSELF IS THIS REALLY A SOLUTION?
In the future if they find a way to waste my money on systems like this then we haven’t learnt anything at all.
Sincerely,
Drug Me
P.S. the future is now
Is that what this article is about? Show some pity towards the poor drug dealer. Protect him from the roving eyes of the cameras. I say nay.
I have several issues to take up with the author.
He says it will be ineffective. I agree it will not stop the drug dealing because it will move somewhere else. However, it will stop the drug dealing in the area in question, which is the objective of placing the cameras there in the first place.
He says it is a dumb idea. The other option would be to increase the number of police officers patrolling the area. This option is not feasible and won’t sit too well with the drug dealers either.
He says the cameras are wrong. It would be wrong if the police installed them in a public place without telling you. However, we have been warned.
He says that the cameras will punish anyone who walks by them. It will only punish those who are guilty of something.
He says that the police should tell the public where, exactly, they’ll put these cameras and how many there will be. It’s like telling a thief exactly when you’ll be going on vacation and when you’ll be coming back.
He wants to know in what cases the tapes will be viewed. Does it matter? If you stay within the law, you won’t have anything to worry about.
He says that the area is hardly overrun by drug dealers. Well, where there is one cockroach, there are bound to be others lurking nearby.
He says that the very act of installing cameras in a public place is an invitation for abuse. Now, if we all behave well, the police will have no reason to view the tapes.
Finally, he says that people who drive have more clout than the drug dealers, squeegees, panhandlers, prostitues and drug users. Not so. Can you picture them protesting the use of cameras? All these people would rather remain inconspicuous than to bring attention to themselves.
I think the general public would be amazed at just how many security cameras there are out there. There are probably numerous instances throughout the day when you are being watched by a security camera in malls, at stop lights, at metro stations, etc. I studied how surveillance and security affects the urban landscape in a class on material culture, and I was surprised at just how much Big Brother watches us throughout the normal course of the day. Granted, I took this class in the States, where surveillance may be more prevalent in Canada, but who knows for sure?
So maybe we should be glad that we at least know about the cameras that are being put outside of the Berri Metro. I agree that this probably won’t be overly effective, just move the drug dealers to other locations. I am not Pro-Criminal, but I don’t think these cameras are a good thing to have monitoring our every move (although I have accepted that this surrveillance is probably inevitable). This money should be invested in drug prevention programs or something that will attack the causes of this problem rather than its effects.
I was side tracked with this article. First it starts off about drug dealers at Berri Metro, and then jumps over to Quebec drivers’ on the road. If a decision was made by the tax paying public to have these cameras placed for safety purposes then how could it be wrong? When I walk by that area I would breathe a sigh of relief that someone is watching over me and I feel a little more protected. Life around that area can be very scary, and Martin; it is negative comments like this that prevent us in making any attempt to improve such conditions. If we don’t try new ideas how will we know if it will work or not? At the very least it’s us taking control and trying to make this a cleaner city for our children to live
Not to put any ideas out there but it seems to me that if you’re trying to do something illegal and that they’ve just installed some security cameras at your usual place of business that you really have to do to get away with it is *MOVE THAT PLACE OF BUSINESS*!
All that money spent just screwed over a different quartier from where I sit.
Automobiles kill everyday. Why are there cars that can go 200km/h? Instead of pretending to be interested by Kyoto they could reduce pollution and tragedies by forcing automakers to limit the speed and power on vehicles.
But they won’t.
Pot and cocaine have been around forever. They could make it legal as in the past. Who are they trying to kid? Any 10 year old can obtain drugs law or no law.
But they won’t.
As one member stated Big Brother is here and might actually look like this(http://www.theembassyvfx.com/tetra_w_movie.html ) in the future. It starts with cameras and then……….
and this they will.
Is Martin Patriquin defending drug dealers’ right to privacy? Give me a break! Surveillance cameras in shopping centres have already nailed a few pedophiles walking away hand in hand with small children and had it not been for the cameras these perverts would probably never have been caught. If installing cameras in their present location of business will force these hoodlums to move somewhere else they will soon realize that they must take their business where the cameras cannot follow them.Will surveillance cameras rid the city of crime? Of course not.But all public places should have cameras.The vast majority of people have nothing to hide and nothing to fear .Thieves, drug dealers,regular trouble makers,shop lifters and other assorted hooligans all want a little privacy.Are we going to accomodate them?
This is one of the brightest ideas that the people of Montreal have ever had. Drug dealers need to be put to a stop and this is the beginning for a way to do it. The camera never lies and it always brings out the truth so that in court the guilty party will be found guilty. I find it hard to believe that anyone will protest the idea of the cameras being there except for the drug dealers. Putting cameras is the best solution and I have to see this for myself. The camera in the sky catches it all.
Well, ain’t this plan just grand? Let’s put in more cameras and more lights and see how much it slows down the criminal tide along Berri and St-Denis streets. Yes, because harcore criminals and hardened junkies are going to be sooooooooooo easily deterred by this.
Sorry, forgive my skepticism here but as it’s been keenly pointed out by other members all you’re really doing is flashing a spotlight on a particular nest of roaches. And I think you and I both know what happens when you do that…they scatter.
They don’t stop being roaches, they simply re-locate.
This is no different.
I do find one thing interesting though; Richard Fradette, director of the Société de développement du Quartier latin quote that the fact that “St-Denis between Sherbrooke and René-Lévesque is the only spot in Quebec where drug trafficking is practiced openly, on the street”.
I mainly have two problems with this statement:
1) It’s utter bull as it’s merely the most KNOWN spot, not the ONLY one. And…
2) Is it just me or has no one truly bothered to ask themselves why this is? It’s there yes, but WHY? What makes this spot and so many like it such crime magnets?
No, asking such questions would require harder solutions. It’s much easier to just throw money at it and hope the cameras chase the problem away so that it looks as if we’re truly on top of it.
This is the equivalent of painting over a crack. The crack is still there. All you’ve done is try to erase the proof of it. The thing about cracks is that eventually they grow and punch through the surface again.
It’s only a matter of time.