YOUTH involvement on crime prevention is very important, says Miss Taveuni Irene Mary Kumar.
Miss Kumar, 18, is one of the eight queen contestants vying for the Northern Crime Prevention carnival crown which is set to start in Labasa next Thursday.
She said there was a need to encourage youths to be part of such positive initiatives because most of them often followed the wrong path.
"Most youths, especially those who are unemployed should be encouraged to engage in crime-prevention activities so they can contribute effectively to the building of a safer nation," the seventh-former student said.
"This is one way of educating youths on crime and it will also help them to stay away from criminal activities.
"Youths are the leaders of tomorrow and I believe it's only proper we educate them now so they can lead a better nation," she said.
Miss Kumar said she hoped to impart a positive message to the public at the carnival.
"Crime prevention is everyone's responsibility and we should all join hands to help police create a safer Fiji."