Justice Minister Andrew Swan was in Thompson last night as the guest speaker at a gathering for Citizens on Patrol.   He shares here how the group can reduce crime.

"Having Citizens on Patrol volunteers out, they're extra eyes and ears for the RCMP here in Thompson.  By them being out doing their patrols,   they're actually  reducing what I would call "disorganized crime."    Things like break and enters where people smash cars because they see that there's some chance to steal a car or steal something from inside it.   The unorganized, random kind of  things that make people frustrated."  

The Citizens on Patrol Program has been active in Thompson for many years.   And while crime prevention and reduction are  main focuses of the group,  Swan says there's an element of safety, too.

"I know many groups across the province use reader boards supplied by MPI where there's a school. That's even more important with the new speed limits.   They can actually have the reader boards and encourage people to slow down and make things safer for our children.  A lot of it is safety-based and the best part is that this is not top down.    It's  community members who are stepping up to make this a safer community."

Manitoba Citizens on Patrol Program is co-ordinated through Manitoba Public Insurance and  supported by law enforcement agencies throughout the province.

Citizens on Patrol in Thompson can always use more volunteers.   If  you have a couple hours a month that you can donate to the program,  call 204-679-2932.    Or go to the web-site at  citizensonpatrol.mb.ca