Seven crime-stopping groups serving B.C., Greater Vancouver and Prince George are sharing more than $370,000 in gaming grants awarded recently to support everything from volunteer street patrols to property engraving to child fingerprinting for parents.

Recipients include:

• The BC Crime Prevention Association. This provincial group is receiving $40,000 toward two goals: uniting local citizen patrol groups into one provincial network that will enhance training, communication, networking and sharing of best practices; and providing training and materials to reduce criminal and nuisance activity in rental properties.
• Hastings North Area Planning Association, which is receiving $39,000 toward volunteer foot and bike patrols; graffiti, needle and garbage clean-up; and community outreach, including an annual safety fair. The grant will also support the association's core information and safety program, which records and responds to safety concerns and crime in multiple languages, and provides crime prevention information and service referrals.
• Kerrisdale, Oakridge, Marpole Crime Prevention Society, which is receiving $30,000 toward an array of services including crime report-taking, referral to social agencies, outreach with tips on home and apartment security, child fingerprinting and ID for parents, property engraving, lost and found, Speed Watch and street patrols by volunteers.
• Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers Association, receiving $125,000 toward its anti-gang and Crimestoppers tip and reward programs.
• Prince George Community Crime Stoppers Association. This volunteer-run group will use its $8,000 grant to further awareness of its well-used tipline, which generates hundreds of tips for local RCMP.
• South Vancouver Community Crime Prevention Society, which is receiving $30,000 toward community crime prevention workshops, presentations and materials; delivery of victim services; lost-and-found and property engraving services; and bike, foot and "pooch" patrols that deter crime.
• Surrey Crime Prevention Society. This society is receiving $100,000 in support of volunteer-led community patrols that target high-crime areas; address safety issues in and around public spaces like parks, bus loops and community centres; aid in the return of lost children and valuables and support crowd control and first aid at public events; and monitor speeding in school and playground areas and at major intersections.

Overall, public safety organizations across B.C. - including community policing groups, volunteer fire departments and search and rescue societies - shared more than $7 million in community gaming grants last year. Public safety organizations provide diverse services in B.C. communities, while sharing a common commitment to protecting citizens.

Quote:

Attorney General and Minister of Justice Suzanne Anton -

"British Columbia's crime rate is at its lowest level in 40 years. Building on that success at the local level means, in part, continuing to support community-led efforts to reduce crime, violence and victimization through annual gaming grants like these."

Quick Facts:

• Last year, Premier Christy Clark increased the annual base budget for gaming grants by $15 million to $135 million per year into the future. These grants benefit more than 5,000 local organizations in virtually every community in the province.
• Groups involved in crime prevention are also eligible to apply periodically for grants from the proceeds of B.C.'s successful civil forfeiture program, which began in 2006.
• Last spring, government provided over $1 million in grants from civil forfeiture proceeds in support of 84 projects related to combating bullying, youth crime, violence against women and family violence, human trafficking and sexual exploitation, and community crime, as well as for police training and equipment.
• In November, government announced the availability of up to $1 million more in grants from civil forfeiture proceeds, for crime prevention projects that prevent the sexual exploitation and human trafficking of vulnerable girls and women, enhance responses to domestic violence and prevent youth involvement in crime.
• Beyond these one-time-only civil forfeiture grants, government provides $375,000 annually in direct funding for crime prevention programs.

Learn More:

Information on the Province's role in supporting sport, arts and culture: www.gov.bc.ca/cscd

B.C.'s civil forfeiture program: www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/civilforfeiture/index.htm

Media Contact:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Justice
250 213-3602