13 26TH ANNUAL CRIME PREVENTION GUIDE Congratulations to the PEI Police Association for continuing their good work again, in producing their 26th annual crime prevention guide. This year the Association has picked ‘Domestic TerrorismAwareness focusing on the Radicalization of our Youth’ which has become much too commonplace today. Radicalization is the process by which individuals are introduced to an overtly ideological message and belief system that encourages movement from moderate beliefs toward extreme views. When radical thoughts lead to violence and other criminal behaviour, society can be put at risk by the actions of individuals and groups. Before this occurs, authorities need to take lawful steps to target the illegal behaviour. Canadians must work to counter extremist violence, and preventing the radicalization of young people is a natural place to start. The radicalization of youth is not a new phenomenon. Radicalization to violence has not been, and will not be limited to a single group, religion, culture, ethnicity or worldview. Extremist groups from the entire political spectrum as well as those with a different outlook have long sought out adolescents by exploiting existing cultural, moral grievances and capitalizing on the natural desire for adventure that many young people have. Today more than ever, the lives of young Canadians are lived online. The World Wide Web is used by children, pre-teens, and teens for research, learning, entertainment, social networking, and to just pass the time. The widespread use of the web is facilitated by the fact that computers are readily accessible in classrooms, libraries, and bedrooms of youth. While the internet provides access to rich educational experiences, great entertainment, and the chance to connect with friends around the clock, it also creates a number of risks that young people, parents, and guardians need to be aware of. There are the commonly known concerns of identity theft, online predators, and cyber-bullying but there is another issue that we need to collectively work to address which is ‘Radicalization to Violence’. Recently, we have seen a number of youth radicalized not because of a direct experience but because of trends and events that sometimes occur in distant regions. Overwhelming guilt or a grievance that comes to a head can lead an individual to act violently domestically. The internet also poses a number of risks to young Canadians. The federal government and its partners are working to monitor websites that disseminate radical messages, encourage violence, and seek to recruit youth into the ranks of extremist organizations. However, monitoring and the disruption of internet sites by law enforcement agencies is only a temporary measure as the material is often duplicated elsewhere with the click of a mouse. Aiding in the radicalization of youth is when the messages come from a role model figure. Messages will resonate more if the source is perceived to be a family member, close friend, spiritual leader, or someone respected for their role within a group. In light of this, there are a number of things that parents, teachers, and community leaders can do to lessen the risks and facilitate a safe internet experience for younger generations. The radicalization to violence of youth ultimately originates within specific communities. Therefore, it is essential for adults within these communities to be aware of the risks and with youth and available partners to counter radicalization. Parents, teachers and caregivers want to provide guidance to keep young people safe in the real world and it should be no different when they venture online. Having a two-way conversation that values the opinions of young people is important. In many cases, young Canadians can navigate the virtual world more efficiently than adults and recognizing this expertise can go a long way toward facilitating a friendly discussion. We can all play a role in this prevention. J. David Poirier Chief of Police Summerside Police Services MESSAGE FROM SUMMERSIDE’S CHIEF OF POLICE
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