Leading up to Crime Prevention Week, the Attorney General, P. Mitchell Murphy, addressed the Charlottetown Royalty Rotary Club about the prevention of crime in Prince Edward Island.
The message of the Attorney General's address was that crime prevention is not only cost-effective, it also improves the quality of life for all Islanders. "Being a victim of crime or living in fear of crime can influence a person's decisions and in some cases, severely hamper a person's freedom. Fortunately, in Prince Edward Island, government, communities, schools, businesses and individuals have demonstrated that they are committed to working together to prevent crime", says Mr. Murphy.
Minister Murphy emphasized the importance of proactive programs that provide early intervention and parenting skills. The Minister says that "by shifting the focus from potential victims to potential offenders, we can alter the situations to discourage crime." Over the past decade the Premier's Crime Prevention Awards Program has honoured the work of many proactive programs, such as the Charlottetown Boys and Girls Club, Students Against Drinking and Driving, and the Inner City Youth Connection.
Minister Murphy described P.E.I.'s "Crime Prevention is Everyone's Business" approach as tackling the underlying causes of crime. "It means ensuring that our children receive the care and support they need to develop healthy and productive lifestyles and it means not giving up on our young people who have gone astray. That is the real challenge."
For more information, contact Diane Barnes at Justice Resource Service, (902) 368-4583.