The Rakiraki Crime Free Committee in its efforts to reduce crime is taking a bold step in joining efforts with its community, Chairman Shanti Lal revealed at symposium held at the Police Academy today.
The Symposium on Crime Free is being held with the theme "Integrated Responses to Crime Free Fiji” with presentations from various stakeholders and present at the workshop were representatives from the different Town Councils, Church leaders, Prisons Department and the Fiji Police Force.
Mr Lal said they have mapped out certain strategies and the symposium will assist them in opening up areas to identify trends of crimes happening in the community.
"We have identified some key areas like the location, number of people living in a settlement and crimes committed, so we are going back to the community to ask them to take ownership of there town and make it crime free," he said.
Mr Lal said since the declaration of Rakiraki as a Town and also as Crime Free in July, there has been a decrease in the crime rate of 50% from July last year same period this year.
"This is a good indication because we are now witnessing the concept filtering into the people and community as whole," he said.
Mr. Lal reiterated secondary schools have been declared as crime free vicinities and have adopted scholastic program.
"Penang High School is now in its third year and every week the managements and students organize role plays and debates.
In helping curb crime, representatives from the Nadi Crime Free Committee suggested to those present, to change their mindset in creating solutions to the current crime rates in their communities.