SURREY – New Democrat Leader Jack Layton announced today a plan to partner with local communities to eliminate gang violence with a three-tiered plan to stamp out crime at the root. At the heart of his plan is a commitment to hire 2,500 more permanent police officers.

Speaking at the Surrey Youth Resource Centre today, Layton said he’d boost the National Crime Prevention Centre and double the Youth Gang Prevention Fund. His plan would also give police more tools to prosecute dangerous offenders, and would double and make permanent the Police Officer Recruitment Fund.

“Families are increasingly worried about their kids getting involved in gangs,” said Layton. “We need action now to stop gang recruiting and get more police officers on to the streets of our neighbourhoods.”

Layton announced that New Democrats would make gang recruiting illegal, and home invasions and carjacking stand-alone crimes. Layton also said Canadians are looking for more federal leadership to help communities tackle crime head-on.

“Stephen Harper’s crime strategy relies on waiting for problems to happen. I believe in working with police and local governments to tackle crime before it starts.”