The extension of a crime prevention programme to include schools all over the State is being considered by Victim Support, it was announced yesterday.
The programme, which has been run as a pilot project in 50 post-primary schools, will be carried out in over 100 Dublin schools this year.
At an event to mark European Victims' Week, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr O'Donoghue, in Smithfield, Dublin, said Victim Support's Youth Awareness Programme (YAP) displayed important insights into how we could, as a society, influence attitudes to crime and its victims.
Launching a YAP video, the Minister said: "The collaborative aspect of the programme with its inclusion of discussions, presentation and video input shows a highly informed approach as to how we might change patterns of thinking in our young people rather than simply lecture them on the evils of crime." The video portrayed real crime, people, consequences and suffering.
Victim Support handled 7,119 cases last year, the majority relating to house burglary. The overall figure has dropped from 7,714 in 1999.
The CEO of Victim Support, Ms Lillian McGovern, said the figures were in line with Garda statistics. Almost a third of all victims counselled by the voluntary organisation were under 25 years. The YAP aimed to empower young people as partners against crime.
Ms McGovern said: "As an organisation supporting and representing the needs and concerns of victims of crime, it is imperative to implement a crime prevention programme among young people, particularly as we see an increase in the intensity of violence used."