Daniel T'seleie
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Mar 12/04) - Evelin Biarton knows that drunk people hang around in ATM lobbies. But a recent run-in at the CIBC bank machine made her concerned for her safety.

A group of intoxicated people loitering in the lobby asked Biarton for money. She was not assaulted and was able to keep all her cash, but she was still startled by the incident.

Biarton works two jobs and often has no time for banking during the day. She used to visit the ATM after her night shift. Now she is more cautious.

"She's scared stiff to go there," said Paul Matwiy, Biarton's co-worker.

Biarton sometimes has to ask Paul to take time out of his shift and accompany her to the bank machine.

Biarton knows public drunkenness is a common occurrence. She often sees intoxicated people loitering in the ATM lobby, either sleeping or waiting for a handout.

Downtown has a history of alcohol related incidents. From Feb. 23 to March 7, downtown Yellowknife had 142 reported disturbances -- most related to liquor -- compared to only three disturbances in YK south: eight in Frame Lake and four in N'Dilo.

Biarton wants to know what is being done to remedy the situation.

"I don't know who should be responsible," she said.

She wants to see the RCMP take a stronger role on the issue of public drunkenness, which she believes is getting worse.

The Bank of Montreal has experienced similar problems. In response, the bank has begun locking its ATM vestibule at 8 p.m.

"We did it out of concern for the safety of our customers," said Janet Porteous, bank manager.

This has reduced crime and vandalism at the Bank of Montreal, but a solution like this would not help Biarton because her schedule forces her to do her banking after hours.

She believes it's up to the bank and the RCMP to make the ATM safe for customers at any hour of the day or night.

CIBC manager Tim Gawne is aware of the situation and said the bank's customers aren't the only ones affected. The bank lobby has to be repainted several times a year due to vandalism.

CIBC has problems with drunk people harassing customers during the day as well.

"I've been getting an awful lot of complaints recently," Gawne said.

"The police are great," he said about their response, though he knows the problem won't be fixed by increased surveillance or throwing people in the drunk tank.

Gawne claims intoxicated people picked up by the RCMP are back in the downtown area within a couple of days.

Can't be charged

Currently a charge for public drunkenness cannot be laid under the liquor act until it is approved by the Minister of Justice. This greatly reduces the number of people charged with public drunkenness.

"Substance abuse is seen more as an illness," said Insp. Paul Richards. The RCMP usually detain drunks until they are sober, or drop them off with someone who is sober and can take care of them.

"We want to assist people rather than punish them," Richards said.

But "every case is different," Richards points out. That's not to say drunks get a free ride.

Drunk people in a public area can still be charged under the criminal code for causing a disturbance by harassing or impeding others.

The Yellowknife Wellness Coalition and the RCMP are working together to implement a community patrol that would help bring intoxicated persons home or to a shelter. They hope to get the patrol moving later this year.

Biarton doesn't know what it will take to keep drunks out of the ATM lobbies. For now, her focus is on staying safe while she does her ATM banking. "I'll still ask somebody to come with me," she says.