Province continues fight on gangs with targeted projects

June 26, 2009
Province continues fight on gangs with targeted projects
Sheriffs join gang units and community prevention programs added
Calgary... To combat gangs and organized crime, the Government of Alberta is adding more than 50 Sheriffs to integrated enforcement teams, and increasing support to community partnerships that address the root causes of gang activity.

“We’re taking our fight against gang crime to a new level as we bring communities, law enforcement and government together on this problem” said Premier Ed Stelmach who made the announcement at the Alberta Gang Crime Summit in Calgary. ”We’re coming at this from all angles; from preventing young people from getting involved with gangs in the first place to strengthening the ranks of our integrated enforcement teams.”

As part of the province’s long-term crime reduction strategy, Alberta has enhanced the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT) by seconding 51 Alberta Sheriffs. The units include the Fugitive Apprehension Sheriffs Support Team (FASST); the Safer Communities and Neighbourhood (SCAN) units; and the Sheriffs Investigative Support Unit (SISU).

Alberta is also bolstering programs aimed at prevention to support long-term crime reduction in the province. Three new Safe Communities Innovation Fund (SCIF) recipients include:

Native Counseling Services of Alberta: $1.5 million for intervention services for youth at risk of becoming involved in a gang lifestyle;
Immigrant Services Calgary: $900,000 for programs to reduce the risk of gang involvement for a core group of low-income immigrant and refugee youth; and
The Town of Chestermere: $356,000 to launch the Chestermere Crime Reduction Partnership which will offer support and referral services to youth identified by RCMP to be at a high risk of gang involvement.

“Gangs target kids to grow their illegal and dangerous business. Intervention programs are at the heart of our action plan.” said Stelmach.

Through the Safe Communities initiative, the Government of Alberta is working on a three-pronged approach of enforcement, prevention and treatment in an effort to reduce crime and make communities safer.

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Backgrounder: Provincial response to gang crime

Media inquiries may be directed to:

Kim Misik, Alberta Justice
Cell: 780-886-9396
Kim.Misik@gov.ab.ca

Michelle Davio, Solicitor General and Public Security
Cell: 780-405-9507
Michelle.Davio@gov.ab.ca

June 26, 2009

Provincial response to gang crime enhanced through commitment to safe communities

As part of the Government of Alberta’s long-term crime reduction strategy, the province has announced projects to address gang activity through awareness, prevention, intervention and enforcement.

Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT)

Three Alberta Sheriffs units have been seconded to the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT) to help combat gangs and organized crime. ALERT is a provincially funded initiative of more than 400 law enforcement personnel including 300 police officers, 50 civilian positions and 51 Alberta Sheriffs. It provides strategic direction and support to 21 integrated law enforcement units through a partnership with Alberta police services and includes the following:

Eight intelligence units which gather, analyze and disseminate intelligence information on organized crime and gangs;
Seven enforcement units including drug undercover teams, integrated marijuana units and gang and organized crime units; and
Three Sheriffs units: Fugitive Apprehension and Sheriffs Support Team (FASST) tracks down fugitives on outstanding warrants; Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods (SCAN) units target properties used for illegal activities by gangs, drugs and prostitution; and Sheriffs Investigative Support Unit (SISU) provides surveillance support to major police investigations.

ALERT will receive $18 million dollars in Budget 2009-10 as part of government’s commitment to tackle gangs and organized crime in Alberta.

Safe Communities Innovation Fund (SCIF)

The $60-million Safe Communities Innovation Fund announced by Premier Ed Stelmach in November 2008 helps develop and support for community-based projects and community-police partnership projects. The following SCIF projects were announced by Premier Stelmach at the Alberta Gang Crime Summit to help reduce crime at a grass-roots level and address factors that give rise to gang activity:

Organization and Program	Description	SCIF grant
Native Counseling Services of Alberta - Gang Intervention and Diversion Program	The program will intervene and direct young people away from becoming entrenched in the gang lifestyle. A comprehensive care program provides resources to children, youth and their families to prevent involvement or engagement in gangs.	$1.5 million
Immigrant Services Calgary - Youth Inclusive Neighbourhoods	The program will reduce the risk and enhance protective factors for a core group of 135 low-income immigrant youth aged 13-16 at high risk of gang involvement. The project's guiding principle is that community engagement can reduce social isolation; a crucial underlying factor for gang recruitment.	$900,000
Town of Chestermere - Chestermere Crime Reduction Partnership	The program will address the emerging issues involving at-risk youth and gang related crime in the community. A community social worker will work closely with the RCMP to offer support and referral services to those youth who have been identified as at-risk. Known violent offenders and the younger siblings of identified gang members will be given priority attention.	$365,000

Other initiatives Alberta has made to keep our communities safe include:

the addition of 300 new police officers over three years;
launching a new housing program for Calgarians with mental health issues and addictions;
funding community crime councils in seven Edmonton neighbourhoods;
adding 30 new probation officers this year towards a total of 110 over three years to enhance the supervision of repeat offenders in our communities;
hiring 32 more prosecutors and expanding the role of the Crown in bail hearings;
introducing a comprehensive bail information package for repeat offenders;
funding a program in Brooks to form connections between RCMP and youth;
increasing residential addiction and mental health treatment beds for young people in Grande Prairie, Edmonton, Ponoka, Rocky Mountain House and Calgary;
adopting the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act and establishing two new investigative teams to target properties used for illegal activities such as drugs, gangs and prostitution;
supporting a pilot project that encourages Aboriginal children to stay in school; and
implementing the Victims Restitution and Compensation Act to seize the proceeds of crime and compensate victims.

Safe Communities is a partnership of nine government ministries working collaboratively to address crime in a meaningful way. The partner ministries are Justice and Attorney General, Solicitor General and Public Security, Health and Wellness, Education, Children and Youth Services, Municipal Affairs, Aboriginal Relations, Housing and Urban Affairs, and Culture and Community Spirit.

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