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
Alberta Battling Ezra Levant's Online News Outlet Over Legislature Access
The Alberta government is battling an online news outlet over access to the legislature and has asked a recently retired journalist to review its media policy.
Alberta Battling Ezra Levant's Online News Outlet Over Legislature Access
New Brunswick Judge To Decide Today Whether To Grant Dennis Oland Bail
Dennis Oland will learn today if he'll walk out of a Fredericton courthouse free on bail, or go to prison to await the appeal of his second-degree murder conviction.
New Brunswick Judge To Decide Today Whether To Grant Dennis Oland Bail
Second Foot Washed Up In B.C. Confirmed To Be Human
The first foot was found by a hiker on Feb. 7 and a second running shoe containing a foot was found last Friday.
Second Foot Washed Up In B.C. Confirmed To Be Human
Daughter Of B.C. Man Fatally Shot By Police Tells Inquest She Could Have Helped
Nousha Bayrami told a coroner's inquest on Tuesday her father, Mehrdad Bayrami, 48, had been on medication for severe depression prior to the armed standoff that led to his death in November 2012.
Daughter Of B.C. Man Fatally Shot By Police Tells Inquest She Could Have Helped
HIGHLIGHTS: B.C. Delivers 4th Balanced Budget, Drops Home Tax To Stimulate Building
Finance Minister Mike de Jong tabled B.C.'s fourth consecutive balanced budget, posting a surplus of $264 million.
HIGHLIGHTS: B.C. Delivers 4th Balanced Budget, Drops Home Tax To Stimulate Building
TD Bank Standoff Ends As Surrey Police Arrest A Male Suspect Without Incident
The man appeared to be in his 20s or 30s, was wearing a blue plaid shirt and came out with his head down. A crowd gathered at a nearby intersection applauded.