UCFV, SFU, POLICE PARTNER IN CRIME INFO SHARING

Researchers at the University College of the Fraser Valley and Simon Fraser
University are teaming up with the RCMP to share information and the latest
research on how best to combat crime, solicitor general John Les said on
Thursday.

The information sharing agreement, signed Thursday at UCFV, will result in
the creation of a highly sophisticated, evidence-based bank of information
that will ultimately reduce crime and enhance public safety, provincial
government officials say.

This new initiative, said UCFV's Darryl Plecas, is "the best thing that has
ever happened to public safety, ever in Canada."

"This innovative crime-fighting partnership is the first agreement of its
kind in Canada," said Les. "It is an intelligence-based approach that will
give police the tools they need to attack crime in new ways. At the same
time, we will gain the knowledge we need to better allocate police
resources and reduce crime in communities across B.C."

The crime reduction research chairs that come with the initiative are also
the first research chairs of their kind in Canada. Plecas will fill the
position at UCFV.

What's also different, said Plecas, is that researchers are involved "right
up front" with this crime reduction initiative.

Using computer technology and expert analysis, criminologists at both
campuses will analyze crime date to research, among other things, the root
causes of crime, crime "hot spots" and repeat offenders.

"The police have this enhanced capacity to measure what they're doing,"
Plecas said.

They will also work on an ongoing basis with their counterparts around the
world, and will provide police with information about crime reduction
techniques in other jurisdictions to help identify new strategies for B.C.

At the same time, RCMP will provide the researchers with their own police
data to complete the picture.

Plecas notes UCFV has a long history of doing applied research, and has
worked closely with the Abbotsford Police on a number of projects.

"This is a perfect fit," he said of the new initiative.

The Centre from Criminal Justice at UCFV, which has been operating for
appwroximately two years, has been a leader in research on grow operations
and crystal meth in B.C., auto crime, repeat offenders and crime prevention.

It has one of the most secure labs "on the planet," allowing for the
analysis of RCMP data.

Its partner lab, the Institute of Canadian Urban Research Studies at SFU,
carries out multidisciplinary research on urban issues.