Pubdate: Mon, 30 Aug 2004
Source: Kamloops Daily News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2004 Kamloops Daily News
Contact:  http://www.kamloopsnews.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/679
Author: Susan Duncan

'CAN DO' ATTITUDE DESERVES CREDIT

North Shore residents who are working co-operatively to fight crime in
their neighbourhood deserve praise for their proactive approach to a
problem that is having a devastating impact on their lifestyle.

An increase in prostitution, drug trafficking and the offences that
occur because of those criminal activities prompted the citizens of
North Kamloops to demand help from their local politicians and law
enforcement officials.

However, they did not just turn the problem over to those agencies and
demand solutions, they joined forces to find ways to alleviate the
problem that has made its way onto the streets where they are trying
to raise families or live out their lives.

It's a frightening situation to go to bed at night and wonder whether
an intruder will find a way to breach the security of a family home.
Residents no longer feel safe walking in their neighbourhood and it's
not fair.

Yet, instead of getting angry and wasting time with unproductive
ranting, North Kamloops folk are coming up with solutions by
participating in a series of community meetings.

Some of the proposals have been so simplistic to be workable.

Criminals feel safer in the dark so encouraging homeowners to leave
their porch lights on all night long is important. At the same time,
city hall can ensure street lights are in place and maintained to
reduce dark corners where criminal activity is more likely to occur.

Another group of neighbours has formed a block watch and two or three
citizens will approach people who don't appear to belong in their area
and ask them to move along. The concept is not vigilantism. It's
neighbours looking out for one another and so far, it's worked.

The block watch has also alleviated the strain on police officers who
have a whole area to patrol. Rather than calling for police five times
a day, the citizens' effort has reduced that need to one call a day.

Crime is a fact of life in every city. No one wants it in their
neighbourhood, but it's unavoidable in areas that are close to
services such as restaurants, establishments that sell alcohol, corner
stores and motels.

Rather than demand politicians do the impossible and eliminate it,
residents will have better success in attempting to reduce crime
through sensible courses of action. That's what's happening in North
Kamloops.

The next public meeting takes place Sept. 29 when the brainstorming
sessions will produce recommendations. When those ideas are compiled
it will be up to the community as a whole to do its part to make them
work.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin