The provincial government remains committed to its Guns and Gangs strategy in an effort to reduce gang activity and gun violence in BC. In April, an additional $23 million in funding for targeting gang activity, reducing illegal firearms and increasing enforcement and prosecution was announced.
In an op-ed released today, Public Safety Minister Mike Morris said integrating law enforcement operations across the province is one way they’re working to take down gangs.
“It doesn’t matter what shoulder-patch you have on or what police agency you belong to. With the prime database that all police agencies operate from in BC, they have everybody’s information. They share information. We’ve got a number of integrated units that work very well and collaboratively together.”
Last month, the province’s Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit announced that a year-long investigation into drug trafficking in BC’s Peace region netted 43 arrests, $70,000 in cash, multiple illegal weapons and a significant amount of drugs.
In October, the government plans to offer an amnesty program, allowing BC residents to turn in unwanted firearms without fear of repercussions.
“A lot of the weapons are legally purchased. They’ve been stolen in a B&E or they’ve fallen into nefarious use through other means. But they started off in life legitimately. We’re looking at these people who have some guns in the closet that Granddad or Dad left in there and they’re looking for a way to dispose of them.”
Morris says, if previous amnesty programs are any indication, thousands of weapons could be turned in in October.
And while government programs and law enforcement action are key, Morris says the public has a role to play in making communities safer.
“Fighting crime in any community is the responsibility of the community. The police can’t do it on their own. We rely on the public. We rely on the public to come forward and report suspicious activities. We rely on the public to come forward and report any activity that indicates there’s drugs being sold in the neighbourhood.”
Morris says law enforcement does follow up on tips from the public and that more information is always an asset.
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