GANGS A GROWING PROBLEM FOR CITY

Greater Sudbury Police has been successful at driving motorcycle gangs
out of the city, but Chief Ian Davidson said organized crime is
presenting itself in a new way -- street gangs.

For about two years, signs of street gang activity have been turning
up here. Leaders will use any means possible to make money criminally.
Telltale signs of street gang activity are the presence of crack
cocaine and methamphetamine.

"It just so happens that crack cocaine is one of the easiest and most
profitable ways to make money," Davidson said.

Sudbury police have arrested known gang members who come to the city
to sell drugs and take part in other criminal activity.

"We have now arrested 21 gang members that are associated with the top
five gangs in Toronto," Davidson said.

A few dozen other arrests have involved people affiliated with these
gangs, such as the Bloods, Cripz and Mara Salvatrucha 13 (MS-13), he
said.

These arrests have been made in the last 18 months.

"With gangs, we see high levels of violence and many firearms that are
usually stolen from the U. S. or from homes in our own cities,"
Davidson said.

"It's very, very competitive and there is an awful lot of money
involved."

Rick Bartolucci, minister of Community Safety and Correctional
Service, announced a new strategy on Friday aimed at "inoculating" our
young people against street gangs.

The province is giving $480,000 to Sudbury police to implement the
Provincial Anti-Violence Intervention Strategy.

"I know the people in this room will make sure that that money is well
used," said Bartolucci, Sudbury's MPP. "We look forward to this money
really having tangible results for community safety in the City of
Greater Sudbury."

About 30 people representing police, youth agencies and other
community groups were at the announcement of the strategy at Greater
Sudbury Police Service Headquarters.

The strategy will target young people with the goal of preventing them
from getting involved in gangs.

"Typically gangs involve kids from about 11 to age 25. Of course, once
you are in at that age you are very, very vulnerable to older adults
who tell you what to do," Davidson said.

Gangs also provide young people with a sense of belonging.

"What we want to do is try to create pathways to try to keep young
people out of gangs in the first place," Davidson said.

Police are working with partners such as Toronto Police Service and
Ontario Provincial Police to put pressure on gang members that turn up
in Sudbury.

Simply locking people up, however, isn't good enough, Davidson
said.

"I would rather prevent one person from joining a gang than arrest
five gang members," Davidson said.

"It's far more cost effective and it makes a difference to the kids
who may not have a choice, but we are going to give them that choice."

Police have hired Anna Barsanti as educational project co-ordinator
for the strategy. Barsanti comes from an education background and
worked for Rainbow District School Board.

She is in the midst of researching other existing programs in other
cities that may work here. A steering committee will be set up with
police and community partners, as well as a youth advisory committee.
"None of this is going to work without the youth voice," Barsanti said.

Barsanti said a session for community leaders and police will be held
to educate the public about gangs and the strategy. A conference is
also planned for the fall.

"The main goal that we have is to have a sustainable,
community-focused project with youth as the number one priority,"
Barsanti said.

Mardi Taylor, executive director at Sudbury Action Centre for Youth,
was at the announcement.

"I think this is great," she said. "We do a lot of front-line work and
a lot of the youth that we see, it's very easy for them to get drawn
into that kind of life (of criminal activity.)"

Many organizations and agencies are working hard to provide the
necessary support for these young people so they won't turn to gangs,
she said.

"Anything like this to support that has got to be a plus," Taylor
said.