Yellowknife (Oct 22/03) - The federal government will pump $1.2 million dollars into aboriginal policing over the next two years Solicitor General Wayne Easter announced last week.

The money will be used to recruit new officers, fund community policing projects and consult with aboriginal leaders.

"There are many unique challenges to policing in the North," said Easter during a press conference Oct.15 in the legislative assembly.

Remote communities and a multitude of languages are just a few of things that make law enforcement difficult in the NWT, said Easter.

The solicitor general also hoped the money would reduce what he called the "over representation of aboriginals" in the justice system.

The money represents roughly a twofold increase in the average funding for aboriginal policing programs in the NWT, said Peter Fisher, director general of aboriginal policing.

"It's a sizable increase which help address the challenges facing policing in the North."

Roughly $230,000 of the new funding will go towards recruiting aboriginal police, $280,000 will support the existing policing programs and $50,000 will be used to consult with community leaders about how to address crime.

The federal government spends about $80 million dollars each year on aboriginal policing programs.