Date of Release: November 13th, 2007

On Wednesday, November 14th, 2007 at 11:30 AM at the Margeson Apartments located at 245 Middle Street in Portsmouth, the Portsmouth Housing Authority in community partnership with the Portsmouth Police Department and the Portsmouth Department of Public Works, will unveil the posting of drug free zone signs that will be placed within 1,000 feet of all 10 Portsmouth Housing Authority properties.

As established by the Portsmouth City Council, this initiative is in compliance with the following:

Section 3.703: Delineation of Drug-Free Zones

In accordance with New Hampshire RSA 47:17, XVII, the Drug-Free Zones established by this Ordinance shall be delineated and published on a map clearly indicating the boundaries of the Zone, which shall be posted in a prominent place in the Portsmouth District Court, the Portsmouth Police Department and on the affected Portsmouth Housing Authority properties. The Zone shall also be marked by signs posted in one or more prominent places in or near the affected Portsmouth Housing Authority properties, which indicated that the posted area is a Drug-Free Zone extending to one thousand (1,000) feet surrounding such properties and which warn that a person who violates RSA 318-B, the Controlled Drug Act, within the Zone, shall be subjected to severe criminal penalties under that statute and an additional possible penalty of up to $1,000.00 under this Ordinance.

This is part of our ongoing, proactive commitment between the Portsmouth Police Department and the Portsmouth Housing Authority to improve the quality of life for all PHA residents. It is the intent of the Portsmouth Police Department to fully enforce the enhanced penalties offered under this law.

Anyone with information about drug activity is asked to call the Special Investigation Unit of the Portsmouth Police Department at 603-436-2511, or remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 603-431-1199 or 207-439-1199, or their website at www.seacoastcrimestoppers.org. If you have questions about the drug free zone signs, please contact Portsmouth Police Sergeant Frank Warchol at 603-610-7630, or PHA Executive Director Joseph Couture at 603-436-4310.