info session WHEN IT comes to crime. the adage is particularly apt: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. By Kate Zimmerman News Reporter That was the message of Thursday night's information ses- sion entitled “Making the North Shore a Safer Place to Live,” one of many events being presented by community groups during November's Tocether Against Violence month. Another common theme, accord- ing to Tricia) Andrew of Neighborhood House, was that the North Shore is stiil a safe place to live, compared with other major centres in North America. Its proximity to Vancouver means crime spills over the bridges and inte the three municipalities here, but local residents do not need to live in fear, Andrew noted. Spokespeople Thursday offered this advice: Be realistic and cau- addresses safety tious but don't be paranoid. The evening. spansored by North Shore Neighborhood House. North Shore Crisis Services Society and the North Shore Disability Resource Centre, altracted 30 peo- ple on a wet night to Neighborhood House. The speakers included Insp.. Grant Churchill of the West Vancouver Police. Insp. Jamie Graham of the North Vancouver RCMP, Carol Ward-Hall of the Crisis Services Society, Pam Horton of the Resource Centre and Andrew. Although the most prevalent crimes on the North Shore are will- ful damage, vandalism and break- and-enters, local police are current- ly targeting the problem of spousal violence and its byproduct. which is children predisposed to violence. “That’s one of our main thrusts at the moment,” Insp. Graham told the News, noting that there’s a dis- turbing new trend toward the batter- ing of mothers by their teenaged children. male and female. “It's a horrendous problem.” inquiring reporter Do you think the North Shore is a Tiffany Hand North Vancouver I haven’t lived here for very long but I’ve never had any problems, never been both- ered or anything. Everybody's “always told me that this is the best place in Vancouver to live. SURVEY TEAM Otto Wetzimayr North Vancouver I sure do. About the only thing that’s changed in the last 30 years is if you're walking behind a woman at 1! o'clock at night she'll give you a funny look. | think women feel a lot more unsafe than men do. NEWS photo Mike Wakefield RCMP INSP. Jamie Graham spoke on the subject of Making the North Shore a Safer Place to Live on Thursday night at Neighborhood House as part of Together Against Violence Month. Studies have proven that men who batter their partners generally have been brought up in homes where they witnessed domestic vio- lence. With that in mind, Graham said. North Vancouver RCMP have four Haison officers. responsible for 16 schools apiece. who attempt to edu- cate children at every level regard- ing the unacceptability of violence toward women. In addition the force has tough- ened its spousal assault policy so Pearl Koven North Vancouver Yes. The community police offices are a good idea. Having the police in the com- munity gives you access and a feeling of security. You don’t get the feeling that you can't go outat night. NO OPINION 0.7% DON'T KNOW 3.5% NO 1.4% The North Shore News survey team telephoned 469 North and West Vancouver residents to find out if you think the North Shore is a safe place to live. The following pie charts contain a break- down of survey results. that women who call the police to deal with a domestic dispute will not have the choice of whether to press charges. They are now con- sidered a witness to the crime. Numerous victim services programs are made available to them by crisis intervention workers. who impress upon them the importance of their participation in the trial of their bat- terer. The police have also adopted a “zero tolerance” policy toward youth violence, according to David Tsonos North Vancouver Yes. | find it pretty safe. I think there should be stricter rules when getting your dri- ver’s licence, however. because some people don't seem to know the rules like stopping for pedestrians at crosswalks, DON'T KNOW 4.0% NO 7.7% Graham. Charges will be laid whenever a young person commits a violent crime. Neighborhood constables in Lower Lonsdale and Lynn Valley, police officers entrusted with on- the-spot problem-solving, and the establishment of storefront police offices are all helping to prevent crime. Graham said there is plenty of information available from the See Disabled page 5 a Pritam Sahoda North Vancouver Oh yes. I’ve lived here for the lust three years and I've felt it is always a safe place to be. Cade ot NO OPINION 0.6%