DRUGS, SAFETY ARE BIG CONCERNS FOR YOUTH

Drugs, discrimination and the police themselves top the list of things that
make young people feel unsafe in their communities, according to a survey
conducted by a Toronto task force.

The survey, which was released last week, spoke to young people in four
communities considered to be at-risk: Jane and Finch, Regent Park, Malvern
in Scarborough, and Parkdale.

According to the survey, which was conducted last year by a subcommittee of
Toronto's Task Force on Community Safety, 79.8 per cent of the 1,254
respondents said they felt safe in Toronto. More females said they felt
unsafe than males. In general, youth in two neighbourhoods - Jane-Finch and
Regent Park - were more nervous than others.

The survey also asked young people what the factors were that made them feel
unsafe. In ranking order, the top worries were: drug activity, which 57.7
per cent of respondents worried about; police treatment of youth, which
worried 52.8 per cent of respondents; and weapons, which concerned 47.9 per
cent of respondents.

That ranking also changed between males and females. Males felt they were
most threatened by drug activity and police; females by physical assault and
discrimination and harassment.

Toronto children's advocate Olivia Chow (Ward 20, Trinity-Spadina) said the
survey points to a need for police to reach out to young people. "Perhaps
they can do so through community centres and programs," Chow said.

"It's not saying anything that we don't know. It's just the young people are
saying it. We need young people to trust the police."