UNION WARNS OF GANG VIOLENCE BEHIND BARS

As tensions between rival gangs rise on B.C. streets, the same thing
is happening within the province's jails -- including Kamloops Regional
Correctional Centre.

And, according to the spokesman for the union representing
provincial-prison guards, it could mean increased gang violence behind
bars.

"Overall, we've seen a rise of gang activity in our nine provincial
jails," said Dean Purdy, representative of the B.C. Government and
Service Employees' Union.

"It's concerning for us."

Purdy said the recent gang activity in B.C. -- culminating in the
brazen murder of notorious gangster Jonathan Bacon last month -- is
boiling over into the province's jails.

"We've seen a number of [gang-related] arrests lately and these
arrests spill into the jails," he said.

"It becomes not only a recruitment centre, but also a battlefield of
violence."

In Kamloops, Purdy said, the problem is no different than it is within
Vancouver-area jails.

"KRCC is pretty much consistent with jails in the Lower Mainland as
far as gang activity," he said, pointing to a recent gang-related
incident in which a Kamloops prisoner was found with a guard's
personal information.

"That's particularly concerning for us."

According to Purdy, gangsters in jail do the same things as gangsters
on the street -- namely deal drugs and "continue on with their gang
activities."

Purdy said the provincial government doesn't track gang activity in
its jails, which could spell trouble in the future.

"That's concerning for us," he said. "We know that with the rise in
the number of gangs, there could be issues.

"Our concern is that one of our officers is going to pay the ultimate
price.

"We think that's something that could happen if they get caught in a
dispute between two rival gangs in one of our jails."