LEAVERS Week 2009 will be launched officially in Perth on November 18 by Police Commissioner Karl O’Callaghan and the Police Minister, Rob Johnson. This represents a change from past years, which saw the official launch held in Dunsborough.

Lisa Clack, from the Office of Crime Prevention, has a pivotal role in managing the leavers’ strategy. She advised the Mail that the rationale behind moving the launch to Perth reflected the fact that Leavers Week activities were not restricted to Dunsborough and organisers were keen to spread the focus of preventative strategies across the state.

“This year there will be one official launch in Perth,” she said. “We don’t want to appear to be too Dunsborough-focused because we do work in other areas such as Rottnest and Geraldton.”

Identification wrist bands for the many volunteers who assist in the leavers’ zone will be introduced this year as a new strategy designed to protect leavers.

“Volunteers involved in the strategy will wear wrist bands this year to identify them as individuals with a legitimate reason for being in the leavers’ area,” Lisa said.

“It’s about keeping the leavers safe and the ‘toolies’ away - those who can’t be identified by their appropriately coloured wrist band, won’t be welcome.”