OTTAWA PUMPS $400,000 INTO CRIME-PREVENTION GROUP

Day Announces Funding Renewal. Montreal-Based Organization Will Use
Some Of It To Conduct Study On Street Gangs

A Montreal-based international crime prevention organization has been
given $400,000 in financial aid from the federal government in part
to conduct a study on street gangs.

"Our government recognizes that one of the best ways to prevent crime
is to study the phenomenon and share our expertise in the domain,"
Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day said during a news conference
yesterday to announce the funding renewal.

"This financial aid allows for research on the most effective ways to
prevent crime and to fight the activities of youth gangs."

The International Centre for the Prevention of Crime, a
non-governmental organization, operates as a type of think tank and
to promote awareness. It was founded in 1994.

Valerie Sagant, director-general of the centre, said Canada plays an
important role in crime prevention around the world.

"Canada favours the promotion of an approach that is in one way
humanistic and respectful of human rights, but at the same time
rigorous," she said.

"Notably, it is an approach founded in scientific knowledge, and we
try to contribute to that approach."

Sagant said part of the funding will go toward looking at how the
private sector can contribute to crime prevention.

The organization will also expand on research already done for a
study on youth gangs that examines the problem on an international level.