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New Kelowna RCMP program coming to curb youth crime

Police say minors committing crimes is on the rise
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(RCMP/Submitted)

With summer here and school out, Kelowna RCMP are ramping up their efforts to stop youth from committing crimes.

A Youth Officer Program is being implemented, after police said that there is a ѻýsense from the communityѻý that more minors have been involved in crimes over the last several weeks, mostly in the downtown and in Rutland.

A release from the RCMP reads that the main goal of the program will be to ѻýdecrease the risk of property crime and increase the sense of safety in public spaces.ѻý

ѻýWe have heard from the community that there are concerns surrounding issues of youth violence, crime, and social disorder,ѻý said Sgt. Andrew Hunter.ѻý We take those concerns seriously, and are implementing steps to address these issues.ѻý

The officers will proactively engage with youth in high traffic areas around town, primarily parks and beaches.

Some might recognize the familiar faces of the officers involved, as they will be the same Community Youth Safety Officers that work with students during the school year.

It is expected that this program will alleviate the pressure on general duty officers, allowing them to answer the many calls that come in throughout the day.

The youth officers will be working with programs like Youth Probation, Youth Crown, Boys and Girls Club and Foundry to give youth the resources they need.

READ MORE: Kelowna sees almost 20% increase in intimate partner violence: RCMP

READ MORE: ѻýThis issue does occur in our communityѻý: Human trafficking in Kelowna



Jake.courtepatte@kelownacapnews.com

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Jake Courtepatte

About the Author: Jake Courtepatte

Editor of ѻý & West K News since February 2022. I have spent the majority of my career working in the Toronto area as both a sports reporter and a general reporter.
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