Take back your life
The Province Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Det. Doug Spencer and Const. Adam Dhaliwal, youth crime investigators with the Vancouver police, have a simple explanation of the path to ganghood:

Kids more often than not join youth gangs because they're promised excitement, money, the status of success and the security of belonging and acceptance in a "family."

When speaking to students, the officers stress:

- Don't believe the promises.

"When you hear gang members say, 'I've got your back' -- they don't. They've actually got a gun to your head," says Spencer.

- Be willing to take a stand and break the code of silence.

Spencer says the code of silence observed by victims only hurts them more. He says it's important that victims are willing to testify in court to send a message to youth gang members.

"If you don't stand up to them now, they own you," says Spencer. "They can do whatever they want to you. If you stand up to them, they won't bother you again because they'll know you'll go to court. It's like a car thief, same theory."