Youth Gang Prevention Strategies (Details)

Name of province/ territory:

British Columbia

City/ Region:

Delta

Description of Initiative:

Preventative strategies and deterrents aimed at reducing involvement with gangs, bullying, extortion, etc.

Initiative Key Objectives:

To prevent and deter involvement with gangs, bullying etc.

Section Responsible for Implementation:

Community-Based Policing Branch

Key Contact:

Melissa Granum
mgranum@deltapolice.ca

Groups/ Agencies/ Key Partners Involved:

  • community groups
  • other government departments/agencies
  • school administration (principles, teachers, school counsellors etc.)

Level of Involvement (consultative - information sharing) and/or cooperative - direct involvement):

The groups worked together cooperatively to develop the initiative. There is daily involvement from school liaisons and other school staff, as well as community-based volunteer groups.

Amount of Time Initiative has been in Place:

There has been a school liaison program in place for 17 years and this specific initiative has been developing for just over a year. It started as an anti-bullying campaign and has morphed into a larger initiative. The school liaisons were concerned because they could only address issues that occurred at school and during school hours. They identified a need to create a program that addresses what goes on after school and in areas where gangs are known to frequent.

Reason for Undertaking the Initiative:

The initiative was undertaken to address a community-based concern. Youth and parents began speaking out about needing to provide more for youth (coaching, mentoring, after hours activities). School liaisons (present in every middle and senior school in Delta) voiced the same concerns.

Resources Required to Implement this Initiative:

We estimate the start-up costs will be around $1.5 million for program costs and police officer costs. This will be a full-time job for a multi-dimensional team. The goal is to create a full-time team comprised of police officers, youth workers and community members to address these issues.

The start-up cost does not seem significant when we consider the much larger amount we gave to CSFEU (an integrated team aimed at battling organized crime in the lower mainland) for which we feel we did not receive a good return on our investment. We know that deterrents and prevention strategies are as important as any other facet of gang prevention.

Method of Implementation:

This initiative has not been completely implemented yet. We do have a youth committee (30 local teenagers) in place and Indo-Canadian community volunteers in place. We are currently working on securing funding and coordinating a team. We hope to have it up and running by the beginning of 2013.

Key Outcomes of the Initiative:

Not applicable as not implemented yet.

Availability of a Communication Strategy:

Yes

Key Messages used to Publicize the Initiative:

We are working to discourage criminal activity amongst youth.

Forms of Evaluation by which the Initiative will be Assessed:

  • internal
  • qualitative
  • social return on investment

Evaluation Completed or Community Feedback Received:

No

Summary of the Outcomes:

N/A

Summary of the Performance Measure Data Collected:

N/A

Economics of Policing Pillars:

Further Details:

We all know more needs to be done to inform and engage our youth and deter them from criminal activity. Some of this comes down to ‘diversion activities,’ i.e., giving kids something to do, somewhere to go and someone to talk to. This is often taken on by groups like the Boys and Girls Club. There should really be a coordinated provincial initiative for something like this.

We are trying to take a multi-dimensional approach to criminal involvement of youth—working with Crown council, local non-profits, schools, school boards, parents and students, and visiting trouble zones frequented by youth. We believe this will deter youth from going down the wrong path, which will result in a better life for them and contribute to a safer community for all.

Additional Comments or Suggestions:

N/A

Record Entry Date:

2013-08-01

Date modified: