Crime Prevention Week opens

The annual Crime Prevention

Week in Port Vila opened on Wednesday, November 4 at Nambatri with youths from 12 areas of Port Vila and three surrounding villages participating in the month-long awareness campaign.

Nasituan Youth Council Association (NYCA) is spearheading the crime prevention campaign with the assistance of the Vanuatu Police Force Crime Prevention Unit. Nasituan advocates for young people particularly the unemployed.

Chairman of the NYCA Yusuf Joseph Nasamal explained that the association believed in using the youths, members of the council, to tell their stories to get people, many of whom are youths, to turn from the road of crime to become useful members of the communities for a positive future.

“During this Crime Prevention Week we are working together with the Vanuatu Police Force to visit the twelve areas where the association has members to educate the communities about offences and their penalties,” he added.

On awareness days, youths from the 12 areas gather at one of the areas chosen for the day and spend four to five hours speaking to youths and community members about 8 crime-related topics and the penalties for these crimes.

Theft, marijuana and drug use, rape and sexual violence, domestic violence and murder, fraud, the work of the Vanuatu Police Professional Standard Unit (PSU) and how a police officer can be reported to this unit if he or she does not perform in line with the law, and individual constitutional rights.

Constable Jeff Natapei, Liaison Officer In-Charge of activities of the Crime Prevention and Community Safety Office of the Vanuatu Police Force says this partnership by Nasituan Youth Council Association with the police to reduce crime is “very good”.

“It is an excellent example of community policing through which the police is encouraging partnerships with communities through proactive policing in communities to promote leadership in running awareness, as the police is always ready to assist the youths run their programs,” he added.

Over 100 youths, members of Nasituan, are involved in the awareness at the communities that have confirmed their interest to host the youths. These are Nambatri, Seaside, Freswota, Simbolo, Ohlen, Bladinaire, Erangorango, Mele, Erakor, George Pompidou, and Pango.

Nasituan Youth Council Association Chairman Nasamal says Nasituan youths appreciate the help from sponsors who have responded to their request for assistance.

Coconut Palms Resort has donated Vt60,000 towards helping Nasituan put the program together. The Vanuatu Police Force for use of their mini-bus to transport the youths to and from venues of the awareness. Classic printers provided printing of the association’s letters and posters free of charge.

Telecom Vanuatu Limited donated 2 Alcatel cellphones, 2 sim cards, and Vt5,000 worth of credits for communication between the youths during the crime prevention week. South Pacific Meat Supplies gave 10 kg of sausages, 10kg of steak, 10 kg of mince, one carton of 2kg chicken wings. Food Stuffs (Vanuatu) Ltd donated one carton of fruit juice and 1 carton of biscuits (20 packets) for refreshments after awareness sessions. And Pacific Petroleum donated 2 drums, each holding 200 liters of fuel – one of diesel and one, petrol for use by the police vehicle that is transporting youths to and from site of awareness sessions.