Powerline

Power Line (956-4090) is the number to call in North and South Point Douglas when you want to anonymously report any criminal or suspicious activity going on in a house or building in your area. There is no Call Display function on the Power Line phone so your call will be completely anonymous.

Once you report a problem house to Powerline, they will report the location to the Public Safety Investigations branch of Manitoba Justice, which works through the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act (SCNA). This Act is a civil law which holds the property owner responsible for activities happening on their property. There may or may not be police involvement, depending on the situation.

These are the things people need to document and report in order to have a house deemed a 'problem house'. You can report all these things to the Power line:

There has to have been ongoing activity that looks like dealing or other criminal activity at an address for a few weeks. This would look like short visits from people on foot, bicycle or, more usually, taxis. The visitors are in and out in 30 seconds to two minutes. The taxi usually waits for them.

These are the questions that PSBIU need answered, before they can take on a case. Rooming houses are particularly difficult as from outside it is hard to be sure which tenant is dealing. PSBIU will need to know:
- The address of the house (if it's a duplex or rooming house, which suite is involved?)
- Which door is usually used to deal; front, back or side?
- What hours does the activity occur?
- Are there dogs on the property?
- Are there children in the house?
- Is there any suspicion of a gun?
- How long has this activity been occurring?

The investigators will set up surveillance and monitor the activities at the house and then go to the property owner with their findings. The property owner will be held responsible for the activities going on in his house and most often will evict the problem tenants. The SCNA initiative has been very successful in its efforts on behalf of our community and others.

If you want to call the Investigations unit directly, you can call them at 945-3475, anonymously.

Powerline is not an agency or government office of any kind. It was started by some residents in our neighbourhood and we’ve done it all ourselves. You are part of our neighbourhood, and working together, we can clean up your part of the Point as well.

To set up your own network, as we’ve done in our part of the Point, you need one or two people on each block in your area to watch what’s going on, and phone or email in the information. The Investigative unit will begin its work very quickly. The people who do the reporting will never be identified. Power Line has no meetings, they communicate by email (email addresses are not shared) or telephone.