Wising up about gangs
Abbotsford Times - www.abbotsfordtimes.com
By Sylver McLaren - For the Times

Abbotsford police say when young men in the community have gang connections, they are likely to have access to guns. - Photo illustration by Sylver Mclaren/For the Times Abbotsford police are hoping a little awareness will help curb gang violence in our streets.

And with 11 shootings this year - two homicides, five residential drive-by shootings, one bullet-ridden unoccupied Hummer, two shootings in the street and one shooting inside a home after a man was beaten - now is as good a time as any, says Const. Casey Vinet.

"We know that the majority of shootings that occur in our community . . . involve young men connected to organized crime," Vinet said. "Organized crime has a presence in virtually all communities in B.C. Abbotsford is no exception."

Vinet said Tuesday's information forum at the Abbey Arts Centre [2329 Crescent Way] will help raise awareness about gang activity and will provide strategies to prevent youth from getting involved in gangs.

"We find with most youth who turn to gangs or other criminal behaviour that there is a lack of family influence or support," he added. "One of the best things you can do as a parent is to be active in your youth's life - be nosey, know what they are up to and engage them in conversation regularly about their activities."

Increasing the community's awareness around gangs is another step toward making Abbotsford as safe as possible.

"An informed community is a safe community," said Vinet.

Criminal Intelligence Service Canada reports an increase in gang-related violence across the country. It is often related to expansion, recruitment and encroachment on other criminal groups' territory.

Friction between crime groups leads to most of the problems and the people connected to these groups are using guns to protect their interests.

"In most of the serious assaults where a weapon is used the victim has been targeted and is known to his attackers, quite often the motive is drug-related," Vinet said.

"As police we know when dealing with a group of young men who have gang or organized crime connections that there is strong likelihood someone in the group will have immediate access to a weapon, consequently we have to be more cautious than ever."

Weapons offences include possessing or concealing guns [even brandishing fakes], knives, swords, taser sticks, pipes, brass knuckles, mace, bats or anything else that has been used or was intended to be used as a weapon.

Vinet said the fire-power of some guns the police are seizing is also disconcerting. In August, police seized an AK47 from the trunk of a car after an altercation between two groups of young men in a parking lot on Peardonville Road.

"We are well aware of the people who are involved in these kind of crimes and we deal with the same people all the time," he said.

According to CISC, street gangs are a part of the organized crime phenomenon in Canada. More than 300 street gangs have been identified in Canada, 20 in B.C.

They are most prominently involved in dealing drugs and the sex trade, which includes prostitution, escort agencies and exotic dancing establishments, but are also active in robberies, home invasions, fraud and counterfeiting currency and merchandise.

Police say street gangs deal crack cocaine, cocaine, marijuana and synthetic drugs. Organized crime groups generally supply them the drugs.

"Gang means different things to different people and the forum will provide information on what we in the policing community mean when we use the term gang," said Vinet.

"The guy on the corner or in his car who shows up to sell drugs may or may not be a gang member himself but you can bet that the drugs he is pushing comes from those who are," said Vinet.

A recent tough-on-crime justice bill tabled by Prime Minister Stephen Harper this week will provide further assistance to police fighting gun crime. The bill means people charged with gun-related crimes will have a harder time getting bail. The law proposes reversing the onus. The accused would have to convince the judge why they should be set free awaiting trial, rather than the Crown showing why they should stay in jail.

Tuesday's gang forum is from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Call 604-864-4825.

published on 11/24/2006