RCMP START AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM TO EDUCATE GIRLS AT RISK

Gang Membership Looks Good on TV but Not in Reality: Police

Surrey RCMP have launched a girls-only after-school program to help
girls stay away from gangs, drugs and crime.

Rosie Thakar, the diversity co-ordinator for the Surrey RCMP,
initiated the program for girls aged 12 to 17. They meet once a week
for 1 1/2 hours and play sports or meet guest speakers to discuss
issues important to teens.

Surrey RCMP spokesman Roger Morrow said police want to do anything
they can to educate teens on criminal activity, especially on youth
gangs, which TV can glorify.

"The way gangs are portrayed on TV, it's sort of an in thing to do,"
says Morrow.

"What they're not seeing are the homicides. They're not seeing bodies
being abused. Go to downtown Vancouver, or for that matter, North
Surrey, and look at the people addicted to drugs. Is that the quality
of life they want to lead? If we can stop the girls getting involved
in the drug culture, even if I've saved one, I've saved a life."

Thakar, who did not return calls to The Province yesterday, told CBC
News that an increasing number of Indo-Canadian women are getting
involved in gangs in Surrey.

Thakar said teenage girls start as prostitutes and end up as drug
runners for gangs.

"Some of our younger girls are getting used in this process," Thakar
said. "They [the gangs] see them as cash."

Another problem is that some of the girls are willing to go to great
lengths to compete for the attention of gangster boyfriends who are
used to having Caucasian girlfriends, Thakar said.

Morrow said the program is for girls of any ethnic
background.

The program, launched in conjunction with the Surrey School District
and Surrey Parks and Recreation, is held after school every Friday at
Princess Margaret Secondary School.