Calgary police will tackle radicalization

Calgary police are taking aim at radicalization in an attempt to prevent young people from going overseas to fight with terrorist groups.

The Redirect Strategy, as it's being called,will target young people between the ages of 12 and 24 who have been identified as at risk.

"We are trying to partner with community-based groups to assist us in that early intervention and prevention efforts," said Calgary Police Chief Paul Cook.

"We have one team that is within our Youth-At-Risk Development [program]that is primarily assigned to this mandate now and will be taking referals."

Ongoing concern

Several young men have travelled to war zones from Calgary, and at least three have been killed in fighting since 2013.

Cook says police will partner with social workers who have "cultural awareness and sensitivityand would have specific training towards the radicalization process and extremist ideologies."

The force will have a better idea of how the strategy will work in the coming months.

There is no federal money going into the initiative, andCalgary police intend to share the plan with other law enforcement agencies across the country.