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TACKLING GANG VIOLENCE TOGETHERFindings of the Mayor’s Task Force on Gang Violence Prevention

JUNE 2018

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The City of Surrey wishes to thank all the participants in the

Mayor’s Task Force on Gang Violence Prevention and all the

individuals and community members that provided information

and advice to support the work of the Task Force.

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MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR

As one of the fastest growing, youngest, and most diverse citiesin Canada, we are acutely aware of the gang violence challenges we face in our neighbourhoods. Addressing this issue remains a priority for my Council – it is simply not acceptable that our citizens are at risk of gun violence as they go about their daily lives. Our goal is to ensure that our young people are connected to the community, and make productive, healthy choices in theirlives and are not lured into the gang lifestyle.

To this end, in August 2017 I announced my Action Plan on Gang Violence Prevention, a coordinated and comprehensive approach to addressing the gang violence that remains a challenge for the entire region. A component of Surrey’s Public Safety Strategy, the plan aims to ensure the most effective actions and measures are being taken locally, regionally and provincially to prevent gang violence.

The Task Force on Gang Violence Prevention convened in October 2017 to review existing programs and initiatives that target gang related violence, and formulate new recommendations for enhancing or expanding existing programs and implementing new initiatives. The task force brought together 23 community partners with representatives from all levels of government, law enforcement, business community, school district, social service agencies, citizens and local media. Together, we have taken a hard look at the issues and focused on addressing gaps in our programming. We are engaging actively with our Provincial and Federal Government counterparts to ensure a coordinated approach and to advocate for support for proven programs and new initiatives.

I am confident that as we take action on the findings of the task force, we will ensure Surrey and other communities in the region make tangible progress to disrupt and eliminate gang violence and the low-level drug trade that fuels it.

Sincerely,

Linda HepnerMayor

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Review Process

The Mayor’s Task Force on Gang Violence Prevention completed a comprehensive review process, which included:

• Listening to presentations and participating in discussions on various topics ranging from the B.C. gang landscape and profile, risk factors influencing gang involvement, promising practices in gang prevention programming, and programs delivered in Surrey to address gang violence.

• Holding a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) Workshop to synthesize the information and identify possible gaps and solutions.

• Performing literature reviews and gap analysis.

• Conducting interviews with task force members, academics and leads of programs in Surrey and other regions.

• Developing a SWOT Analysis Working Group composed of various City, RCMP, school and non-profit stakeholders.

B.C.’s Gang Landscape

In addition to a review of current programs, the task force researched B.C.’s gang landscape and the reasons why youth get involved in gangs. The findings outlined below suggest that the gang landscape in B.C., and Surrey, is very different from other regions in Canada and around the world.

Findings include:

• BC.’s gang landscape is always changing and seems to be unlike other areas experiencing gang violence.

• Some evidence suggests that B.C. gang members come from many different social, economic and ethnic backgrounds.

• Youth in B.C. gangs appear to come from a mix of affluent, middle-class, and low-income homes. This is unlike gangs in other areas, such as the United States or other parts of Canada.

• B.C. gangs are profit-driven, mobile and take advantage of opportunities in local neighbourhoods to make money.

• Gangs operate like a business and focus on a many illegal activities such as drug trafficking, firearm sales and prostitution.

• An initial review suggests that gang members exhibit criminal and anti-social behaviours at young ages.

• The Surrey RCMP reports that the average age of gang members involved in the 2014–2016 gang conflict is 23. The average age of their first criminal offense is 16 and average age of first school suspension is 13.

Even though there were a number of findings from the B.C. Landscape review, the task force determined that further research is required as much of what we know is based on assumptions, observations and stories and is not documented with quantitative data.

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North Vancouver, 1 Pop: 138,833

Maple Ridge, 1 Pop: (82,256)

Coquitlam, 1 Pop: (139,284)

Hope, 1 Pop: (6,181)

Port Renfrew, 1 Pop. (144)

Nanaimo, 1 Pop. (90,504)

Chilliwack, 1 Pop. (83,788)

Kamloops, 1 Pop. (90,280)

Williams Lake, 2 Pop. (10,753)

Prince George, 3 Pop. (74,003)

Kelowna, 4 Pop. (127,380)Vancouver, 5 Pop. (631,486)

Langley, 5 Pop. (143,173)

Richmond, 6 Pop. (198,309)

Surrey, 6 Pop. (517, 887)

Abbotsford, 7 Pop: 141,397

Figure 1: 2017 Gang-Related Homicides by Jurisdiction

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Gang violence occurs in communities across B.C., no matter their size.

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0%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Lower MainlandDistrict

South EastDistrict

North District Island District

Shots Fired Population

80%

90%

100%

10%

48%

62%

17% 16%20%

16% 15%

6%

Figure 2: Shots Fired and Population in British Columbia by Policing Region, 2017

Shots fired incidents create fear in all regions of BC. - in 2017 there were 983 shots fired incidents reported to police. Almost half of these occur in the densely populated areas of the Lower Mainland.

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What Makes Youth Vulnerable to Gangs?

Youth from a variety of backgrounds can become involved in gangs for many reasons and it is often a combination of these factors that lead to vulnerability. The following points highlight the main reasons youth in BC and Surrey are vulnerable to joining a gang.

• Trauma or domestic abuse• Substance use• Lack of parental involvement• Peers or family involved in crime• Lack of positive friendships• No positive adult role models• Cultural identity issues• Poverty• Mental health and behaviour issues• Perceived glamour, status and desire for money• Lack of fear of consequences or enforcement• Neighbourhood influences• They owe the gang money and are threatened with violence if they do not repay the debt

The above information comes from a review of available data, discussions and interviews.

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Figure 3: Key Prevention and Intervention Programs in Surrey

Surrey’s Prevention Programs

The review showed that:

• Gang prevention programs in Surrey are currently focused on youth who are most at-risk, and there is scope to develop programs with a wider focus on the general population.

• With additional resources, proven programs can better promote their services to target groups, ensure their long term operation and improve outcomes.

• More programs are needed that focus on younger children (ages 6–13) and their families to intervene before risks become elevated.

• More focus on neighbourhood based approaches would improve outcomes and address specif-ic areas of the community with higher levels of vulnerability and risk.

• Expanding access and resources for exiting and outreach services for high-risk gang-involved youth and adults is an important step to disrupt gang activity.

• Surrey programs can be enhanced to recognize our cultural diversity and ensure culturally and gender appropriate services are available in our key neighbourhoods.

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Recommended Actions

Based on the research and current program review, the task force developed the following six key actions:

1. Implement a “Middle Years Table” to refer at-risk children and families for appropriate interventions and services.

• The City of Surrey will develop a planning table specific for middle years children and their families that will provide coordinated case management and referrals to programs, resources and support services that reduce youth involvement in gangs.

2. Strengthen prevention program coordination, access and evaluation.

• The City will develop and manage a Senior Prevention Coordinating Committee (SPCC). The committee will create, deliver and manage current and new programs to close gaps, ensure program are delivering the outcomes needed, and improve access to existing programs. The SPCC will help avoid program duplication and will increase efficiency. As well, it will make sure community engagement is a key piece of program design and enhancement.

3. Partner with the Federal and Provincial Governments to develop a comprehensive neighbourhood specific prevention program.

• The City will seek to partner with all levels of government in the development, implementation and evaluation of a community specific model and pilot project for identified Surrey neighbourhoods in conjunction with the Surrey School District, the Surrey RCMP and other community and agency partners.

4. Support the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU-BC) and the Surrey RCMP in informing citizens of the risks related to gang life.

• The City will continue to support CFSEU-BC and the Surrey RCMP in developing a regional communication campaign. The campaign will share the risks and realities of gang and gun crime and highlight positive programs and success stories.

5. Expand and integrate the CFSEU-BC Gang Intervention, Exiting and Outreach services and widen the target population to support youth and adults to exit the gang lifestyle.

• The City will advocate for and support permanent and expanded funding from the Provincial government for the CFSEU-BC Gang Exiting and Outreach Program beyond the pilot phase, integrate the program with Gang Intervention services, increase resources dedicated to these services, and widen the target population to support youth and adults to exit the gang lifestyle.

6. Support the Surrey RCMP in developing and implementing an Inadmissible Patron Program.

• The City will continue to support the recommendations of the Illegal Firearms Task Force. Specifically, those designed to support the development and implementation of an inadmissible patron program (like Bar and Restaurant Watch) and other deterrence programs that limit the gang lifestyle.

These actions need commitment from all three levels of government and partners across our community if they are to be successful. The City of Surrey and its partners are committed to addressing gang violence and working together across sectors to create measurable results.

Figure 3: Key Prevention and Intervention Programs in Surrey

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Members of the Mayor’s Task Force on Gang Violence Prevention

• Mayor Linda Hepner (Chair)

• Tom Gill, City Councillor (Deputy Chair)

• Randeep Sarai, Member of Parliament (Surrey Centre)

• Mike Starchuck, City Councillor

• Ary Azez, Citizen

• Jordan Buna, Citizen

• Laurie Cavan, GM, Parks Recreation and Culture, City of Surrey

• Satbir Singh Cheema, CEO, Progressive Intercultural Community Services (PICS) Society

• Assistant Commissioner Kevin Hackett, Chief Officer, Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit - B.C.

• Anita Huberman, CEO, Surrey Board of Trade

• Victor Lall, President, South Asian Business Association of B.C.

• Vincent Lalonde, City Manager, City of Surrey

• Jamie Lipp, Director, Office of Crime Reduction & Gang Outreach, Policing and Security Branch Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General

• Dr. Keiron McConnell, Citizen

• Assistant Commissioner Dwayne McDonald, Officer in Charge of Surrey RCMP Detachment

• Christine Mohr, Executive Director, Options Community Services Society

• Rob Rai, Director, School and Community Connections, Surrey School District

• Gopal Sahota, President-Elect, Fraser Valley Real Estate Board

• Paul Sahota, Citizen

• Balwant Sanghera, Citizen

• Michelle Shaw, Director of Operations, Fraser Region Pacific Community Resources Society

• Dr. Terry Waterhouse, Director, Public Safety, City of Surrey

• Dwayne Weidendorf, Group Publisher & General Manager, Black Press

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