Prince George, BC – The city’s contribution to the BC civil forfeiture program is markedly smaller than the Lower Mainland, but every little bit counts in the war on drugs and organized crime…

Province-wide, civil forfeiture has taken in a record $10.8-million dollars so far for 2011-12.  That’s more than double the $4.8-million dollars forfeited in all of 2010-11.

In its first year, the Civil Forfeiture Office saw five cases settled and $800-thousand dollars in assets forfeited.  To date, the program has wrapped up more than 400 cases, and this past year included the seizures of a drug-traffickig helicopter, houses, cars, and cash.

Locally, the CFO says Prince George RCMP have referred a total of 11 files to the office since 2006, resulting in four forfeitures with a total value of $187-thousand dollars.

The program is self-sustaining and, every year, issues province-wide grants for crime prevention program.  Prince George has received three:

• last fall, the Canadian Mental Health Association received $25-thousand dollars to address the recruitment of vulnerable adults into gangs by engaging adult offenders who live with mental illness and/or other disabilities in supported recreation and cultural education activities
• in 2008-09, Prince George Community Policing received $17,500 for a project aimed at reducing youth crime and gang violence by empowering youth with information and tools related to drugs, gang violence and internet safety
• in 2007-08, Carrier Sekani Family Services received $20-thousand dollars to bring urban and rural youth together for violence prevention training and supported the participants to deliver 12 subsequent workshops to rural and First Nations communities along Highway 16-West

As a result this year’s record-breaking proceeds, the Ministry of Justice has announced another $5.5-million dollars in grants available.  Details of application processes are available at www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/crimeprevention/grants/index.htm