Young People and Violence Action plan 2008
Young People & Violence – a key focus of our work |
The action plan formed the working foundation for discussions on young people and violence at the Conference of Cantonal Directors of Justice and Police (CCDJP), the cantonal and municipal police forces and the Swiss crime prevention. The SKP hat attempted to assemble all the relevant aspects, data and sources in just one paper. They lay no claim to the paper being in any way complete. The action plan is divided into three parts: Part I details the basic elements. Part II presents the results of the SKP survey among the cantonal police forces and cantonal education and social departments. The survey was conducted in April 2007 and the results evaluated in June 2007. The results represent the standard of knowledge in June 2007. Crime prevention measures that have been initiated, planned and implemented by the cantonal police forces and cantonal education and social departments after this time, are not included in the paper. The SKP is planning an Internet platform for 2008. It will display all the crime prevention measures in the area of young people and violence that have been taken or are planned by the cantonal and municipal police forces. Compiling and releasing a comprehensive catalogue of all crime prevention measures involves police force involvement. The conclusions drawn from the survey are presented In part III, as are the measures that are to be worked out from January 2009 with the support of the expert commission. |
SKP measures taken in 2008-2009The results of the SKP survey among the cantonal police forces and cantonal education and social departments are particularly important in devising and planning the future approach. Close examination of the three statements made by the SKP reveals the following three consequences for the SKP:Consequence 1 The plans for implementing a public mass media campaign (placards, radio and TV commercials, brochures for distribution to the public, etc.) will be abandoned because of the meagre financial and human resources and the numerous measures that have already been planned and implemented by the three official bodies. Consequence 2 Instead of this, in the coming two years the SKP will concentrate on the aspects; exchange of know-how and experience, promotion of educational and further training modules for the members of the cantonal and municipal police forces (and other relevant actors in this field).This involves bringing the levels of knowledge among members of the police force up to the current stand. Consequence 3 The action plan is to be understood as an image-campaign promoting the aims and activities of the police. In knowing about the various measures being taken by the police in the field of young people and violence, the public’s subjective feeling of security (increased effectivity and efficiency of police tasks and aims) will increase. 1. The SKP will organise and conduct a national conference of police forces on the topic young people and violence, at which the crime prevention measures being implemented by different police forces from across the country will be presented and discussed. Experts from different disciplines and parts of the country are invited to hold talks on the following subjects: childhood, adolescence, violence, conflict behaviour, education, culture, role of the parents, sexuality, socialisation, alcohol and drug use, use of the media (the influence of new technologies on children and young people), to name only a few examples. The target audience are, in particular, the members of the cantonal and municipal police forces. 2. An education and training module, which can then be made available to the cantonal and municipal police forces, will be prepared by the SKP in cooperation with the Swiss Police Institute (SPI) and experts from the disciplines childhood, youth, violence, conflict behaviour, education and development, parenting, sexuality, alcohol and drug use, medication consumption and use of the media. Appropriate consideration is to be given to the skilled experience of the police youth officers. 3. The SKP will create an Internet information forum listing and summarising all the crime prevention projects undertaken by the cantonal and municipal police forces (plus contact information). 4. The SKP will strengthen their PR and media efforts (in accord with the cantons), among other things by restoring the «SKP-Newsletters» that is to be published in German, French and Italian three times a year. The newsletter is an ideal multiplier for the SKP’s prevention-message, not only in the area of young people and violence, but also in the other areas in which the SKP is currently active. The Newsletters also functions as a mouthpiece for the management and project commission. The public must be informed on SKP activities. 5. Presentation of the April 2007 SKP survey at the conference of cantonal directors of education (EDK) as well as at the conference of cantonal social and welfare directors (SODK). The managing director of the SKP will provide the conference with the necessary papers. 6. Presentation of the SKP action plan to the national parliamentarians. The managing director of the SKP will provide the necessary papers. 7. Invitation to the Swiss media (training course for journalists) to a half-day information session in Bern on young people and violence. Apart from informing about police activities, the role and responsibilities of the media should also be discussed. 8. Networking of activities carried out by the SKP and the Swiss Federal Health Ministry (BAG) - department responsible for alcohol and drugs-, Federal Office for Social Security (BSV), Federal Commission for Foreigners (EKA), the Federal Children and Youth Commission and other organisations and institutions that operate at national level. 9. Presentation of the Action Plan 2008 to all relevant national professional organisations in the fields of education, social affairs, culture, security etc. The managing director of the SKP will provide the necessary papers. The SKP has also set itself the goal for 2008, of trying to generate a common and more sophisticated understanding of ‘violence prevention among young people’, by the members of the cantonal and municipal police forces, The list of 10 problems in the area ‘young people and violence’ will be discussed by the project and management commission, which will endeavour to find both political and structural solutions to the problems on hand. |