City Exchange Programme Update

In 2004, the International Centre for the Prevention of Crime (ICPC) launched an international exchange programme between the cities of Liège, Bordeaux and Montreal, focusing on public nuisances and drug- and prostitution-related safety issues. Funding of this three year Programme was provided by the city of Montreal and the Permanent Secretariat
for Prevention, Ministry of the Interior, Belgium. 

The programme involves three key stages:
                                                                                            
Year  1-   Asssessing problems and their impact.
Year  2-   Implementing an action plan  to respond to problems identified.
Year  3-   Evaluating the action plan and assessing lessons learned from the implementation and the exchange experience.

The second year of the programme began in Liège on March 7, 8 and 9, 2005.  Over the course of three days, the following case studies were examined:

1-  Favechamps, a project using a cross-cutting approach to prevent public nuisance.
2-  A local police project focusing on substance abuse in downtown areas.
3-  START: the re-launch of an emergency center for drug users.

The meeting in Liège included a press briefing by Mr. Willy DEMREYER, bourgmestre (President of the communal Board) of Liège, Ms. Raymonde DURY, President of ICPC Executive Board, Ms. Véronique FAYET, Deputy Mayor of Bordeaux, Mr. Paolo TAMBURELLO, Mayor of the district of Villeray- St-Michel-Parc-Extension in Montreal and Mr. Daniel SANSFAÇON, Acting Director General of ICPC. 

                  

This press briefing was an opportunity to discuss the work of the City Exchange Programme with the local press, highlighting the importance of exchanging knowledge and expertise between cities.

ICPC would like to to thank all those who participated in the meeting and contributed to its success, especially Ms. Sophie NEUFORGE, Director of Projects, Department of Substance Abuse, Contrat de Sécurité et prévention and all the members of her team.

The next city exchange meeting will be held in Montreal on 3,6 and 7 June 2005.

     









While in Belgium, representatives from the City of Montreal, and ICPC had the pleasure of meeting Mr Chritos Sirros, the Quebec Delegate, Brussels.

(pictured above).