More police teams and prosecutors dedicated to combating gang violence will be on the ground and new curbs on gang crime and illegal guns will soon be in place. These are among a dozen new and expanded initiatives that are part of a more than $23-million boost to B.C.’s Guns and Gangs Strategy.
The funding will bolster public safety in Surrey, Williams Lake and other communities that have seen recent spikes in violent, public gang activity, through a three-pillar approach focused on:
Supporting effective enforcement and prosecution.
Furthering community safety and public engagement.
Expanding laws and sanctions targeting illegal guns and gang violence, profits and property.
“The frequency and public nature of recent gang shootings is unacceptable and demands this additional, strategic deployment of resources. People deserve to feel safe no matter where they live in B.C.,” Premier Christy Clark said.
 – b.c.’s integrated anti-gang organization – to support police in communities around the province, dealing head-on with violent criminals to suppress and disrupt their activities.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
enhanced funding for the provincial tactical enforcement priority (ptep) – a comprehensive approach that has integrated municipal, provincial and federal intelligence systems to maximize police efforts to pinpoint and disrupt gang and criminal networks.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
putting dedicated crown counsel on priority ptep files in surrey that involve offenders with lower-level ties to guns and gangs. this will enhance continuity as these cases proceed to trial and build prosecutors’ familiarity with, and expertise in handling, these files.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
expanding the capacity for electronic monitoring of high-risk offenders and ensuring the courts – which have sole discretion over assigning electronic monitoring as a condition of a recognizance or sentence – are fully aware of the options at their disposal.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
the second pillar will further community safety and public engagement by:</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
establishing a new office of crime reduction and gang outreach. this office will work with cfseu-bc in support of its end gang life program, as well as local governments and agencies, to provide overarching co-ordination of provincial anti-gang outreach programs.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
creating an illegal firearms task force to study and strengthen provincial and federal programs related to illegal firearms.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
.jpg)
MORE National ARTICLES
Andrea Horwath Supports NDP Leader Tom Mulcair's Bid To Stay On As Leader
OTTAWA — Federal NDP Leader Tom Mulcair is hoping to stage a political comeback at his party's convention in Edmonton — a challenge to which his Ontario counterpart can relate.
Andrea Horwath Supports NDP Leader Tom Mulcair's Bid To Stay On As Leader
Alberta Premier To Outline Plan To Deal With Economic Downturn In TV Address
EDMONTON — One week before her government is to introduce its budget, Premier Rachel Notley is to deliver a 15-minute talk on TV about the economic challenges facing Alberta families.
Alberta Premier To Outline Plan To Deal With Economic Downturn In TV Address
Man Shot By Police During Intervention In Northern Quebec Community Dies
Provincial police say the 25-year-old man passed away late Wednesday after the incident in Lac-Simon, northwest of Montreal.
Man Shot By Police During Intervention In Northern Quebec Community Dies
Trudeau To Visit Resource-rich Northern Ontario To Talk Infrastructure
SUDBURY, Ont. — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau heads to northern Ontario today as he continues to talk up his government's infrastructure spending plans.
Trudeau To Visit Resource-rich Northern Ontario To Talk Infrastructure
Ottawa To Spend $30 Million On Helping Quebec Homeowners Who Have Pyrrhotite
He made the announcement after visiting a residence in Trois-Rivieres, where pyrrhotite is a problem in possibly several thousand houses.
Ottawa To Spend $30 Million On Helping Quebec Homeowners Who Have Pyrrhotite
Stephane Dion Says Aung San Suu Kyi 'De Facto' Leader Of Myanmar
OTTAWA — Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion says he considers Aung San Suu Kyi to be Myanmar's de facto leader, noting she is bound by a "strange rule" in her country's constitution.