STREET GANGS ON THE RISE ACROSS PEEL

Grass Keeps Growing

Street gangs are increasingly making their presence known in Peel Region. A
new report based on 2001 statistics released by Peel Regional Police
indicates there are up to 25 gangs now operating across the region,
counting about 1,400 young people as members.

Gang activity has led to everything from robbery to attempted murder last
year, but police say steps are being taken to curb their criminal habits.

"We're becoming better at identifying who the true gang members are and
what they're doing," said Peel Deputy Chief Ron Bain. "The traditional
methodology was just waiting for the phone to ring."

Some of the street gang hot spots across the city include:

*Paisley Blvd. and Confederation Pkwy. area

*Brandongate Dr. and Delmonte Cres.

*Queen St. S. and Thomas St.

Police have been cracking down on street gangs with the formation of a
Gang-Related Intervention Team (GRIT) in 11 Division, dedicated to
alleviating street gangs and educating youth of the potential danger of
gang involvement.

Bain added a portion of the gang activity here is a spill-over from Toronto.

"There is some affiliation, no question," he said. "But we're not looking
to just displace the problem."

According to statistics, about 78 per cent of violent crimes like murder,
attempted murder and robbery were committed by people aged 15-29 last year.

There was also a six per cent jump in young offenders committing violent
crime and property crime in Peel last year compared to the previous year.

Drugs, particularly marijuana, have also become a major factor that police
in Peel have to deal with.

The report shows that last year, 81 hydroponics labs that grow marijuana
were seized in Mississauga. This year, there have already been 69.

But more alarming is that since last year, home-growing marijuana has been
the cause of more than a dozen fires -- 10 last year and three so far this
year.

Last month, three people were sent to hospital because of a fire that broke
out at Benack's Restaurant in Port Credit during a drug cultivation procedure.

"The potential for injury is huge here, especially since some of these labs
have kids in them," said Acting Superintendent John Nielsen, head of Peel's
drug squad. "One of these days, it could turn deadly."