Most victims do not go on to hurt other innocent people. If being a victim was an explanation for crime, then hundreds of thousands of female sexual assault and domestic violence victims would be committing crimes or be in prison. The inclusion of the public in the crime prevention movement is essential to any possible success. However, this assistance should never be interpreted to hold communities responsible for crime. Communities should not have to protect themselves, but reality dictates that they do.
Offenders are the only ones truly responsible for crime.
Although we are not experts on social reform, Victims of Violence supports some of the proposed crime prevention strategies. For example, community policing has become an excellent and essential part of policing, but it is only a part of policing. The police must still be required to respond to calls concerning offences in the Criminal Code . More community involvement is another good crime prevention strategy. Police mini-stations and increased foot patrols are two examples of community police initiatives that increase the visibility and availability of the police.