Yellowknife (Sep 11/06) - While police statistics show that crime is indeed on the decrease, the public's perception is something else. On the city's 50th St., notorious for drug dealing and public drunkenness, several retailers are saying enough is enough.

Three stores located inside the 50th St. corridor, have decided to pull up their tent pegs and move to safer, more customer friendly areas of the downtown core.

"I think Citizens on Patrol has helped, but this is not the ideal location for attracting customers," said Pat Vienneau, owner of Chez Patricia women's clothing store on 50th St.

"They should have an office (for Citizens on Patrol) right on the street like Granville St. in Vancouver," she suggested as a means of reducing the number of intoxicated people who swear, harass customers and urinate outside her shop.

However, Vienneau is not waiting for more police presence on 50th St. She plans to move her store to the old Polar Parkas location one block over on 49th St.

Jan Granberg, manager of Langlois, a gift and home decor shop next door to Chez Patricia, says the shop is moving as well due to the same concerns.

"Customers often complain, and a lot of people say they won't come in here because of it," said Granberg of the constant stream of unruly drunks.

"When I come here to open up in the morning, I have to open up five locks on the front. Sometimes there's blood on the door handle, spit, gob and one time a lady squatted and peed right in front (of the store)."

Moving store-fronts as well is Le Stock Pot, a kitchen accessories shop beside Subway and the liquor store. Proprietor Pierre LePage said the reasons are twofold; he wants a bigger shop and many people won't visit his shop because of its location.

"And when customers do come, they always look both ways to make sure it's safe to leave," he said. "That's not very appealing."

"The thing that is sad is that the RCMP is forced to deal with the public drunkenness non-stop," added LePage, who often apologizes to police when calling to report yet another substance-abuse casualty lying in front of his shop.

"Trained policemen should be focused on crime prevention, it's not fair to them."

Yellowknife detachment commander Roch Fortin estimates 4,000 working hours are spent dealing with public drunkenness annually.

As each RCMP officer works approximately 1,880 hours per year, that is the equivalent of two full-time officers dedicated to this issue alone.