GANG RAIDS HARSH, BUT THEY WORK

Think of gangs like the Driftwood Crips that police broke up early
Wednesday as terrorists.

Like terrorists, they live among the people and neighbourhoods they
terrorize.

That's what makes it hard for police to root them out. It's why police
sweeps, involving hundreds of officers suddenly descending into
neighbourhoods before dawn, are necessary.

Surprise is essential, lest gang members are tipped off by associates
and flee as the raids begin.

It's not pleasant for anyone. Police often invade homes with guns
drawn and tear the place apart in the search for suspects, guns,
drugs. In the process they damage and upend appliances, furniture and
clothing.

Innocent bystanders, including children who live in the same house as
an alleged gang member, may be traumatized. Unfortunately, there is no
easy way to do this work effectively.

The measure of the success of Wednesday's pre-dawn sweep in Jane-Finch
and elsewhere is that the police were successful in making dozens of
arrests, with no one killed, wounded or taken hostage.

Police Chief Bill Blair, along with police from Toronto and across the
GTA, including the RCMP and OPP, deserve credit for that.

No one raid will stop gun violence. Blair estimates there are up to 25
criminal gangs in Toronto similar to the Driftwood Crips. While it was
one of the worst, this job is just starting. The good news is, the
strategy seems to be working.

In 2005, the year of the "summer of the gun," Toronto had 52
gun-related murders out of 78 homicides. Last year, following a major
gang bust, that dropped to 29 gun murders and 69 homicides.

Thus far this year, gun murders are up 33% -- 16 to 12 compared to
this time a year ago -- but still one shy of the 17 recorded in 2005.
Most other major crime categories, however, including the total number
of shootings and victims, are down dramatically.

Attorney General Michael Bryant said the province has committed $52
million this year for operations against organized crime and more
raids are coming.

The police are doing their job. Now we'll see if the courts do theirs.