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New Brunswick prosecutor to head Alberta crime reduction programs

Last Updated: Wednesday, May 7, 2008 | 2:46 PM ET

CBC News

A former New Brunswick Crown prosecutor with 17 years' experience has been chosen to direct Alberta's new crime reduction initiatives, which the provincial government promises will make communities safer.

The appointment of Bill Wister to head the Safe Communities Secretariat was announced Wednesday in Edmonton by Alberta Minister of Justice Alison Redford.

The secretariat will work to implement recommendations of the Crime Reduction and Safe Communities Task Force. The group of experts traveled the province last year and made 31 recommendations, ranging from hiring more police and prosecutors to expanding drug treatment programs.

Solicitor General Fred Lindsay promised that the changes, which he says people should start noticing within months, will help end the "revolving door" cycle of crime.

The recent provincial budget included $468 million over three years to implement the recommendations. The money will go to, among other things, the hiring of an additional 300 police and other law enforcement officers across the province.

The province has also pledged to streamline the court process by hiring more Crown prosecutors and other court workers and to improve communications between police forces to allow them to track the worst offenders.

With files from the Canadian Press
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