| Purpose : |
The “Youth Safe Zone Model” is a provincial asset development project geared to address issues of gang and crime recruitment, child and youth sexual exploitation and broader risks of crime and victimization of youth in partnership with Private Sector stakeholders in retail and mall settings.
This project is based on the project idea developed in the City of Richmond with the Cadillac Fairview firm (security firm of Richmond Centre Mall) and a number of key youth stakeholders. This proposal will develop a Provincial template complete with resources, ideas, concepts, and a sample start-up kit for various mall types/sizes to effectively engage youth, retail merchants, youth workers, schools, ICBC, police, and the general public in an asset development approach to crime prevention and reduction of risk and victimization. As well, subcommittees will be developed at the local level that will become Networks designed for capacity building and development of local leaders, to maintain sustainability to address these issues.
Based on preliminary research as well as through discussions with contacts in Richmond, it has been determined that malls are areas of risk for youth to be exposed to sexual exploitation, recruitment into crime, drugs, or gangs, as well as bullying and other dangers. A project coordinator would work to develop a provincial program designed to increase positive engagement of youth, reduce risk factors, and increase protective factors using an asset development approach.
As well as the active engagement of youth, the project will also focus on training mall merchants, security personnel and customers about the issues facing youth in mall settings. A marketing component would develop a provincial template of the project tools and resources for use across BC. A youth network will be developed with other partners to ensure local issues are addressed and to build local capacity and to further sustain the project. Linkages will be developed with experts on gangs and gang recruitment, as well as ICBC/Bait car program support to assist in developing accurate tools and stats on auto crime issues.
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