Pubdate: Fri, 24 Jan 2003
Source: Etobicoke Guardian (CN ON)
Copyright: 2003 Etobicoke Guardian
Contact:  http://www.insidetoronto.ca/to/etobicoke/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2218
Author: David Nickle

YOUTH AT RISK: SURVEY

Drugs, discrimination and the police themselves top the list of things that 
make young people feel unsafe in their communities, according to a survey 
conducted by a Toronto task force.

The survey, which was released recently, spoke to young people in four 
communities considered to be at-risk: Jane and Finch, Regent Park, Malvern 
and Parkdale.

According to the survey, which was conducted last year by a subcommittee of 
Toronto's Task Force on Community Safety, 79.8 per cent of the 1,254 
respondents said they felt safe in Toronto. More females said they felt 
unsafe than males. And in general, youth in two neighbourhoods - Jane Finch 
and Regent Park - were more nervous than others.

In Jane-Finch, 27.5 per cent of young people felt they were unsafe on the 
streets.

The survey also asked young people what the factors were that made them 
feel unsafe. In ranking order, the top worries were drug activity - which 
57.7 per cent of respondents worried about - police treatment of youth - 
which worried 52.8 per cent of respondents - and weapons - which concerned 
47.9 per cent of respondents.

That ranking also changed between males and females. Males felt they were 
most threatened by drug activity and police; females by physical assault 
and discrimination and harassment.

Toronto children's advocate Olivia Chow (Ward 20, Trinity-Spadina) said the 
survey points to a need for police to reach out to young people.

"Perhaps they can do so through community centres and programs," Chow said. 
"It's not saying anything that we don't know. It's just the young people 
are saying it. We need young people to trust the police."
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens