Neils Christensen
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Apr 05/04) - Crime in Nunavut is at an all time high. A group in Iqaluit is trying to develop plans to take a chunk out of it.

On March 26, the Government of Nunavut's department of justice hosted an all-day seminar to discuss crime and crime prevention strategies.

Fifteen people representing a variety of groups came to the seminar. Koovian Flanagan, assistant director of community justice, organized the meeting. "It's about time we start working together to resolve the crime rate in Nunavut," she said. "I'm hoping that through this meeting we can come up with solutions."

Dr. Irvin Waller, a professor of criminology at the University of Ottawa, was in Iqaluit to help facilitate the seminar.

One suggestion he brought forward was to create a legislative body that oversees crime prevention strategies.

During the seminar, Waller said the purpose of a government body is to bring a variety of departments and organizations together to create and implement crime prevention strategies. He said by following some proven southern strategies, Nunavut can significantly reduce the crime rate.

"Over a 10-year period you can reduce the rate of violence by 50 per cent," he said. "That is an achievable goal."

Cpl. Jimmy Akavak, RCMP officer for the Federal Enforcement Section, said they have to find a better way to deal with offenders. He said the courts aren't solving the problem.

"It's the same people who are going through the court system," he said.

"They aren't dealing with the heart of the issue."