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NEWS RELEASE | |
For Immediate Release 2024PSSG0040-000714 May 9, 2024 |
Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General |
Government takes action to tackle gang violence in B.C. | |
VICTORIA – The Province is continuing to take action to keep people and communities safe through new initiatives that help to combat gangs, fight organized crime, and stop criminals from bringing violence and toxic drugs into communities. “Gang violence and organized crime impacts all of us, and we are co-ordinating with local, provincial and federal agencies to ensure we are taking the right steps to keep people safe and hold those responsible for gang-related activities accountable for their actions,” said Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. “This is a top priority for our government. We are continuing to work alongside our policing partners to curb gang violence, and the development of this team is an important step forward in this collective responsibility.” Building on the Province’s ongoing efforts to prioritize strong prevention, intervention, intelligence and enforcement initiatives, a new Integrated Gang Homicide Team (IGHT) is being created in the Lower Mainland. The team will focus on investigating gang-related homicides and improving intelligence co-ordination related to gang activities. The new team is part of B.C.’s comprehensive gun and gang strategy, and will leverage experts from agencies, including B.C.’s Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU-BC), the Organized Crime Agency of British Columbia (OCABC) and the RCMP’s Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT). The new team will prioritize complex gang-related homicide files in order to hold individuals accountable and disrupt gang activity in the Lower Mainland. “For over 20 years, we have utilized an integrated policing approach, successfully investigating and prosecuting those responsible for the most egregious crimes, including members of organized crime groups who have, time and again, neglected public safety in furtherance of their own personal agendas,” said Supt. Mandeep Mooker, officer in charge of IHIT. “Now in 2024, as the gang landscape evolves, so must our approach to keeping Canadians safe.” Since 2003, gang-related homicides in British Columbia have risen, climbing from 21% of B.C. homicides to 46% in 2023. Gang-related homicides present unique challenges due to evidence tampering and witness reluctance, making them more time-consuming and resource-intensive to investigate. As of December 2023, IHIT reported 356 unsolved homicides. The establishment of the new Integrated Gang Homicide Team will strengthen investigative capabilities, enabling IHIT to redirect team members to focus on these cases. Under the federal government’s Initiative to Take Action Against Gun and Gang Violence, the B.C. government has received $10.9 million from Public Safety Canada for the 2023-24 fiscal year. The funding will go toward anti-gang and crime initiatives throughout the province, including the Organized Crime Agency of BC, Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers, and the New Westminster Police Department’s Gang Suppression Unit. Significant investments continue for enhanced and specialized enforcement activities related to guns, gangs and illicit drug trafficking throughout British Columbia. Every year, $100 million is invested to bolster provincial firearm forensic capabilities, strengthen gang enforcement and suppression initiatives, and support community-based prevention and intervention programs. Quick Facts:
Learn More: To learn more about the Guns and Gangs Violence Action Fund, visit: https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/cntrng-crm/gn-crm-frrms/index-en.aspx To view gang-prevention resources for parents, visit the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit B.C. website: https://endganglife.ca/ To learn more about B.C.’s Safer Communities Action Plan, visit: https://strongerbc.gov.bc.ca/safer-communities/ Two backgrounders follow. |
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Contact: | |
Lauren Marchant Media Relations Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General 778 405-4863 |
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BACKGROUNDER 1 | |
For Immediate Release 2024PSSG0040-000714 May 9, 2024 |
Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General |
Government initiatives combat gang violence | |
Under the federal government’s Initiative to Take Action Against Gun and Gang Violence, the B.C. government has received $10.9 million from Public Safety Canada for the 2023-24 fiscal year. A portion of this funding will be designated to bolster initiatives and contracts addressing organized crime, gun violence and gang activity. Of this, $2.5 million will be allocated to various endeavours, including, but not limited to:
Other initiatives to dismantle organized crime in B.C. under the federal funding program, administered through the province, include:
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Contact: | |
Lauren Marchant Media Relations Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General 778 405-4863 |
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BACKGROUNDER 2 | |
For Immediate Release 2024PSSG0040-000714 May 9, 2024 |
Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General |
What people are saying about government’s actions to dismantle organized crime | |
Dean Murdock, mayor, Saanich; chair, Saanich Police Board – “In the past year, officers in our department have dedicated hundreds of hours on both education and enforcement. Parents and youth have learned how to identify gang activity through the Gang Education and Trends seminars, and the work of investigators has resulted in drugs and weapons being seized and criminals being charged. These funds help support real actions that lead to a safer community.” Ian Tait, acting chair, Delta Police Board – “Addressing the complex challenges of guns, gangs, and violence in our community requires ongoing collaboration and proactive measures from government partners and the police to be effective. We are grateful to receive the federal GGVAF funding, in co-ordination with the B.C. government to enhance the effectiveness of Delta Police Department’s (DPD) gang enforcement program. We are proud of the DPD’s work to ensure our community and our citizens’ safety and well-being remain our top priority.” Ken Sim, mayor, Vancouver; chair, Vancouver Police Board – “The funding from the Guns and Gangs Violence Action Fund is crucial for keeping Vancouver residents safe. Thanks to this grant, the Vancouver Police Department has been able to strengthen its efforts against gang-related crime and violence. This support will allow the VPD to hire more personnel and upgrade infrastructure, helping keep our city streets free from criminal activity.” Linda Annis, executive director, Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers – “When it comes to gangs and their guns, we’re all in this together and gangs don’t care about municipal boundaries. Over the past seven years, the guns and gangs program has resulted in over 4,000 tips relating to gangs and guns activity, 210 arrests and 273 illegal guns being seized in Metro Vancouver. Between the provincial government’s funding and the anonymous tips we get from the community, we have the makings of a terrific partnership, one that continues to pay off each and every year.” Manny Mann, assistant commissioner, officer in charge of CFSEU BC – “Investigating gang-related homicides and bringing those responsible to account is shared across jurisdictions. As a provincial agency, we are committed to co-ordinate with partner agencies in B.C. to advance these shared objectives.” Neil Dubord, chief constable, Delta Police Department – “The Delta Police Department (DPD) is committed to maintaining our community's status as one of the safest in B.C. by addressing the widespread impact of guns and gangs and the associated violence that affects communities across the Province. Our team’s multi-faceted strategy deploys various resources and programs like Project De-Suppress, all guided by an intelligence-led and evidence-based approach. We are grateful for the Province’s recognition and support of Project De-Suppress through the GGVAF funding.” Patrick Johnstone, mayor, New Westminster; chair, New Westminster Police Board – “The New Westminster Police Department’s Gang Suppression Unit has been doing valuable work since 2020 disrupting organized crime activity and providing youth a pathway out of gangs. This has made New Westminster a safer place for families, and I am grateful to the federal and provincial government for this continued investment in community safety and well-being.” Ryan Windsor, mayor, Central Saanich; chair of Central Saanich Police Board – “This funding support has allowed us to enhance our intelligence capabilities through the hiring of a dedicated crime analyst who has provided significant support both proactively and responding to new organized crime investigations. As a result, we have co-ordinated our response to high-risk targets, seizing weapons, charging individuals and disrupting criminal activity in our community. This initiative makes it possible for us to enhance our training capabilities related to organized crime and gang investigations, establish important networks and relationships with subject matter experts and assist us as we strive to keep our community safe.” |
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Contact: | |
Lauren Marchant Media Relations Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General 778 405-4863 |