The proceeds of illegal activities forfeited by criminals are now available to fund anti-bullying projects in B.C.
The provincial government announced this week that schools, community groups, social agencies and police forces that develop projects to prevent bullying can now apply for grants from the civil forfeiture proceeds fund.
Funded mostly by unlawful drug activity and organized crime, police seizures of cash, vehicles, boats, helicopters, real estate property and other assets from criminals have funneled $28.6 million in to the provincial forfeiture program since it began in 2006. It pays for projects designed to prevent youth involvement in crime, stop violence against families and women, fight human trafficking and sexual exploitation, and help battle community crime. One-third of the fund is used to compensate victims of fraud.
Minister of Justice Shirley Bond said the province's decision to extend that fund to groups committed to eradicating bullying is an extension of the government's commitment to the ERASE (Expect and Respect A Safe Education) stop-bullying strategy.
"In recent weeks, and in the course of [Tuesday's] anti-bullying summit [in Vancouver], it has become clear to us that civil forfeiture proceeds could be used to protect young people in yet another important way -- by supporting community-led efforts to combat bullying," said Bond, in an email to The Citizen.
"Given the current round if grant funding is now open to applications, I encourage any group interested in this vital public safety issue to consider applying. Civil forfeiture is a way we can make our communities safer. It helps deter unlawful activity directly and its proceeds have helped efforts to keep our children and youth safe from gang influences, sexual exploitation, violence, deadly Ecstasy and now bullying."
Application forms are available at www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/crimeprevention/grants/index/htm.
The province also unveiled its new ERASE bullying website, www.Erasebullying.ca, which gives children all over the province an online mechanism to report bullies.
For students in the Prince George area, School District 57 has its own Safer Schools anti-bullying website, which also has a portal to report bullies. Go to www.sd57.bc.ca.
