ONTARIO CONSIDERS ANTI-BIKER BLITZ

The Ontario government is considering expanding police biker squads as part
of a plan to combat the growing threat of highly organized biker gangs,
Solicitor-General Bob Runciman says.

The province is also looking at funding more programs that involve joint
police force operations, as well as focusing on seizing more biker assets,
Runciman said.

The main police biker squad is run by Ontario Provincial Police.

Runciman wouldn't put a dollar figure on how much extra the province will
spend in trying to crush the expansion of bike gangs, but said it will be
money well spent.

``We are hearing from police that they (bike gangs) are a real threat.

``Just how we are going to respond to it is what we are trying to come to
grips with now,'' he said.

Runciman made his comments during a news conference yesterday to announce
crime prevention grants totalling $430,000.

The money, which comes out of a $700,000 proceeds-of-crime fund, is to be
distributed among seven police forces to pay for equipment such as spike
belts, which are used to stop fleeing vehicles.

It will also be spent on initiatives to reduce robberies and auto thefts in
various cities.

The only police force in Greater Toronto to get money was Peel Region.

That force was given $28,543 to be used to purchase Stop Sticks, designed
to stop a vehicle being pursued by deflating its tires in a slow,
controlled fashion.

Runciman said he was disappointed more police forces didn't apply for
funding but said he believes once word of the program gets out, more will
ask for cash for front-line programs.

He said the province will be announcing more grants soon.

Using the proceeds-of-crime fund for policing was made possible by a
special agreement between the federal and provincial governments, Runciman
said.

``Not only will convicted criminals be unable to profit from crime, they
will also find their assets being used to fight crime,'' he said.

Bill Baxter, president of the Police Association of Ontario, welcomed the
announcement, saying it will go a long way to fund programs that otherwise
wouldn't exist.

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