Gang Crime Summit Action Plan Update
By 250 News
Monday, January 24, 2011 03:55 AM
Prince George, B.C.- It has been 2 and a half months since the Anti Gang Crime Summitt was held in Prince George, and a report to Prince George City Council this evening shows there is work being done as a result of that two day event.
In her report to Council, the City’s Manager of Social Development, Chris Bone, outlines the five themes that emerged from the summit:
1. Investing in positive early childhood intervention is critical as a means to divert children and youth from a life of crime. This includes supporting families and enabling community connections that reach across the divides of age and class.
2. Multi-sectoral community partnerships are of vital importance in the fight against gangs.
3. Addiction services and treatment options, such as the Baldy Hughes Treatment Centre, help to mitigate gang activity which is often driven by the demand for drugs.
4. Media plays an important role in mobilizing community efforts to stem gang violence – particularly given its ability to inform, communicate and educate.
5. Prince George citizens want to be involved in efforts to address gang violence. They are proud of their community and want to be part of the solution.
Bone says key sectors are already responding to these themes with special initiatives. Some of those efforts include:
Communities that Care: An assessment of community resources in place to address the risk factors facing youth is underway, it should be completed by the end of June. Once of the Co-developers of the Community prevention approach will be in Prince George at the end of March for a public session on how all members of the community can make a positive difference in the lives of children.
Community Assessment and Action Network (CAAN):
The B.C. Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General in partnership with the Inter-Ministry Committee on the Prevention of Youth Violence and Crime, received $2 million over four years from the National Crime Prevention Centre to implement the ‘Preventing Youth Gang Violence in BC – A Comprehensive and Coordinated’ Provincial Action Plan. Prince George was selected as one of eight communities, based on the level of need, risk, and community readiness to develop gang prevention initiatives. A detailed community action plan will be completed by March 31 of this year.
Public Safety Canada's National Crime Prevention Centre (NCPC)
NCPC provides funding selected projects that contribute to preventing and reducing crime in Canada and to increasing knowledge about what works in crime prevention. Funding is provided through three streams including the Northern and Aboriginal Crime Prevention Fund. This fund supports the adaptation, development and implementation of innovative and promising culturally sensitive crime prevention practices which address known risk and protective factors to reduce offending among at-risk children and youth in communities. Carrier Sekani Family Services has received funding under this stream for its Walk Tall project.
Policing
In addition to its regular members and staff, the Prince George RCMP Detachment is complemented by volunteers in a multitude of programs including but not limited to Auxiliary Policing, Victim Services, and staffing of Community Police Offices. The Prince George RCMP Detachment also benefits from the support of the North District and "E" Division Resources which includes the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit, Drug Section, Criminal Intelligence Section, Major Crime, as well as the Integrated Gang Task Force and many others.
Education
School District 57, is aware that schools are very attractive recruitment targets for gangs. The School District enabled the Communities that Care (CTC) survey of students in schools. RCMP are also very involved in the classroom, offering Liaison officers, the PARTY program, the DARE program and the anit-bullying program.
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