CANADA CALLING News from Canadian Crime Stoppers
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CANADA CALLING News from Canadian Crime Stoppers Fall / Winter 2009 Volume 1, Issue 2 Canadian Crime Stoppers Moves to Fight Human Trafficking Human trafficking – it’s the modern day form of information on how to report suspicious cases. “…given the slavery and it’s become a serious and growing “The Canadian Crime Stoppers Association, Royal nature of this crime in Canada, regardless of where people live. Canadian Mounted Police and Public Safety People assume that it’s only a “big city” crime, but Canada all recognize the importance of combating alarming crime, the truth is that it can be happening in your own human trafficking,” says Ralph Page, CCSA Chair. victims are community, large or small – and it’s happening “We see our awareness project and the tip taking now. The sad part is that, given the nature of this capabilities of Crime Stoppers in over 4,000 understandably alarming crime, victims are understandably reluctant Canadian communities as a key component in reluctant and and frightened to come forward. eventually reducing and eliminating this crime.” frightened to However, victims of human trafficking and anyone Posters, pamphlets and a community presentation who knows that it might be happening in their own have been developed as a result of this partnership. come forward.” neighbourhood, have a place to turn to report this These educational tools are being provided terrifying crime. It’s the same place people have to over 100 Crime Stoppers programs across the been able to report crime and criminals, without country. “We encourage all Canadians to support identifying themselves, for the past 25 years or their local Crime Stoppers programs by contacting more – Crime Stoppers. them and requesting awareness materials or by The Canadian Crime Stoppers Association (CCSA), encouraging local presentations in their own in partnership with the Royal Canadian Mounted communities,” Page adds. Police (RCMP) and Public Safety Canada have In 2007, the United Kingdom Human Trafficking developed a public awareness campaign designed Centre created a very successful “Blue Blindfold” to inform the public of the potential dangers of campaign. The key theme of the campaign is human trafficking, help the public identify suspected “Don’t Close Your Eyes” – the blue blindfold re- occurrences of human trafficking, and provide presenting the risk of people being unaware of the crime going on around them. CCSA was given Inside this issue permission to adapt and utilize the “Blue CCSA Chair 2 Blindfold” campaign here in Canada which has been incorporated in printed materials and in the Halifax 2010 3 presentation which has been developed. Provincial News 4 Local Crime Stoppers programs are being asked to participate in this project to help increase aware- Business Plans 5 ness and hopefully reduce or eliminate human trafficking. It will take Provincial News 6 a concerted national effort to achieve Gangs 7 this goal, but with the participation of local Crime Stoppers programs, it’s believed there will be an CSI Winners 8 definite impact on this fear-provoking crime. Record Retention 9 Pictured above are delegates at the 2009 Ontario Submitted by Doug Fraser, Public Relations Chair of the Canadian Crime Stoppers Association Tip Takers View 10 Association of Crime Stoppers Provincial Conference in Barrie, Ontario wearing blue blindfolds in anticipation of the launch of the Canadian Crime Stoppers Association’s cam- paign targeting human trafficking. News from Canadian Crime Stoppers Message From the Chair of Canadian Crime Stoppers We’re busier than ever. we were all delighted to learn that during Secondly, in August, Nova Scotia Crime Looking back over the our conference a new program for Crime Stoppers will be hosting the 31st Annual past 6 months or so Stoppers was launched in New Zealand CSI Training Conference in Halifax from since our inaugural under the guidance and direction of the August 23-25, 2010, inclusive. The world issue makes us realize UK Crime Stoppers program. will be coming to Canada for the second just how much activity CSI President Gary Murphy also provided time in a year. Let’s plan to support Nova has taken place in the some very interesting insights into interna- Scotia and show the world again just how Crime Stoppers world. tional developments – in particular the well Canada can host a conference. Start Operation Infra, attempt currently underway to safely planning now to attend and as soon as the designed to locate International fugitives, implement a Crime Stoppers program in registration opens in the New Year get took place in July under the auspices of Juarez, Mexico, a city experiencing major registered and start planning for one of CSI and Canada was part of the network. crime related to the drug trade. the best if not the best conference ever! See you in the Maritimes then. The operation was deemed to be a success Here at home we have just released details overall despite the very short notice we all to all the Canadian programs about our To all the Crime Stoppers and supporters got. While the arrests and follow-up of tips “Human Trafficking Awareness” project and their families have a very safe and is still ongoing, there have been approxi- being supported by Public Safety Canada happy holiday season. Thanks very much mately forty locations of wanted fugitives and the RCMP. As our materials point out, for your support again for CCSA over this identified, which is a great result. human trafficking is occurring everywhere past year. It is hard to believe also that the 30th across our country yet largely operates Respectfully submitted by Ralph Page, Chair Canadian Crime Stoppers Association. Annual Crime Stoppers International under the radar of most of the population Training Conference hosted by Queensland due to a general lack of knowledge. Our Crime Stoppers of Australia has come & gone project is designed to help change that & already. Canada was very well represented with the assistance of all our Canadian at the conference with over 45 delegates programs we hope to increase overall registered, the second largest contingent awareness of this tragic crime. Subsequently, behind the host Australia. Overall, the we look forward to increased tips about conference was very well organized and human trafficking which in turn will lead to training content was found to be very arrests and eventual conviction of the peo- relevant to those who attended. ple who commit the crime. Everyone As usual the networking was the confer- involved in the government & the RCMP are Check it Out optimistic that our support will mean a lot ence highlight. I know a lot of information The Canadian Crime Stoppers in helping to decrease human trafficking & ideas were exchanged during the informal Association recently launched a activity in Canada. We are sure hoping so. events when those attending had the new website. To check it out, log It is also an excellent opportunity for us to opportunity to mix and share ideas. I saw on to www.canadiancrimestoppers.org increase awareness about Crime Stoppers one of our Canadian delegates learning and get all the latest Crime Stoppers and to make our communities feel a lot about a unique approach to youth crime information. being offered by UK Crime Stoppers. safer as a result. Contact information was exchanged in 2010 will be an exciting year for a couple order to obtain further details and truly, of important reasons; firstly Canada will this is what a conference is really all host the Winter Olympics in BC which will about. be an exciting time. Crime Stoppers will be I would like to congratulate all of the extending our tip taking network across the Canadian programs who were award winners World to receiving any tips or intelligence at the conference. I was very proud to see relating to the Olympic games and the that Canadian programs won the majority Greater Vancouver Crime Stoppers program of the awards. will be receiving all the tips and forwarding on to be dealt with by the appropriate law These continue to be very exciting times enforcement agency. Another way we are for Crime Stoppers around the world and helping with community safety issues. Page 2 – Fall 2009 News from Canadian Crime Stoppers Plan to be in Crime Stoppers and the RCMP – Halifax in 2010 2009 and the future Submitted by National and International crime to the forefront in the eyes of Submitted by Wayne Noonan, Conference Crime Stoppers Coordinator, RCMP Sergeant Canadians. In November 2009, The RCMP Chair, Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers. Doug Dersch. and CCSA will jointly hold a national press Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers is very Crime Stoppers and the Royal Canadian conference in Ottawa, Ontario that will roll pleased to host the 2010 Annual Mounted Police (RCMP) continue to forge out the partnership. This partnership was Training Conference in Canada from a strong partnership introducing new initia- another first for both organizations and August 23 to August 25, 2010! tives which are firsts for both parties. their dedication and commitment has brought it to reality. Halifax has a history you can feel, with Crime Stoppers International (CSI) spear- Crime Stoppers International and CCSA a colonial past evident on every street headed an International Fugitive Roundup have partnered with the RCMP in efforts to corner and a fascinating culture that has and Arrest Initiative (Operation INFRA) in champion a public information campaign grown out of it. It’s little wonder there conjunction with law enforcement partners being Interpol, United States Marshal on preventing and solving crime during the are so many things to do in Halifax. The Service as well as law enforcement agen- Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic culture is yours to savour—with food, cies around the globe where Crime Games.