CRIME MONEY GOES TO FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS

Prince George Community Policing will be using proceeds of crime
seized by the province to educate youth at risk in the city about the
dangers of drugs and gang involvement.

Prince George-Mount Robson MLA Shirley Bond announced a $17,500 grant
Friday to Community Policing from the Civil Forfeiture Remediation
and Crime Prevention program. Since May 2006, the Civil Forfeiture
Act has allowed the B.C. Supreme Court to seize $5.6 million in
property acquired through crime or to further criminal activity.

"The program will focus on a number of forums," Bond said. "This is
about about trying to empower and bring value to youth."

Through The Right Stuff (TRST) Factor program, Community Policing
will host a series of forums for youth about drug use, gang violence
and Internet safety.

Community Policing co-ordinator Linda Parker said the group will work
with other community groups already working with youth at risk to
make sure the message gets to those who need it.

"The educational sessions will be about giving them alternative life
choices. We want to empower them with positive life choices," Parker
said. "The forums will really address some key youth issues."

In addition, the funding will be used to engage local youth to design
and paint a mural in the 20th Avenue pedestrian underpass.

"Pedestrian tunnels are traditionally problematic. (But) public
murals tend to remain untouched," she said. "We are hoping it will be
left alone and make people feel safer."

Parker said they hope to involve area youth who use the pedestrian
tunnel on a regular basis in the mural design.

Prince George RCMP Supt. Brenda Butterworth-Carr said that crime
reduction strategies like TRST Factor are important for safe communities.

"I want to recognize what Community Policing brings to the
community," she said. "It's such a huge part of policing and needs to
be acknowledged."

Prince George Community Policing was one of 14 organizations to
receive funding in the current round of grants. Over $1.3 million of
the $5.6 million seized has been used for victim compensation and
crime reduction projects.

"Additional financial support allows for additional opportunities to
empower youth," DARE and BRAVE youth program coordinator Cst. Deb
Medcke said. "What better way to use proceeds of crime than to prevent crime?"