|
Backgrounder
Document d'information
|
|
|
Ministry of the Attorney General
|
Ministère du Procureur général
|
|
For Immediate Release
December 11, 2006
ONTARIO'S GUNS AND GANGS STRATEGY GIVES POLICE AND PROSECUTORS THE TOOLS THEY NEED
The McGuinty government is on the side of Ontarians who are concerned
about crime and safety. That is why it is doing everything in its power
to get guns off our streets and make our communities safer. Fighting gun
violence requires being tough on crime, using strong enforcement and
effective prevention, and taking aim at the causes of crime. Ontario is
creating healthy neighbourhoods by targeting investments in better
housing, safe schools, after-school activities, and programs for
under-served youths and adults. As part of its guns and gangs strategy,
the Ontario government will continue to work with all levels of
government and members of the community to find legislative changes and
community-based initiatives to help end gun violence.
BEING TOUGH ON CRIME
-
Provincial Operations Centre — The government is
establishing a state-of-the-art operations centre that will better
allow for highly coordinated investigations and prosecutions of guns
and gang-related offences. It was announced by the Premier in January
2006 as part of a $51 million package of guns and gangs-related
initiatives. The centre participants will include the newly expanded
Guns and Gangs Task Force, Ontario Provincial Police, and probation and
parole staff. Federal participation in the operations centre is being
discussed. Construction is underway. It is expected that the centre
will be fully operational by January 2007.
-
Expanded Guns and Gangs Task Force — The task
force includes police officers, Crown prosecutors and staff from the
Victim/Witness Assistance Program who work together from the first day
of an investigation. The Crown prosecutors provide early legal advice
to police, especially on search warrants or other issues arising in an
investigation. They also, where appropriate, get legal authorization
for the police to conduct wiretaps. After charges are laid by police,
Crown prosecutors prepare and conduct the prosecutions. The McGuinty
government has expanded the task force twice since October 2005 for a
total of 64 Crown prosecutors and their support staff, and 12
victim/witness service staff. To date, most (60) of the Crown
prosecutors have been assigned. The remaining Crown prosecutors will be
in position by the end of the year. In addition, Ontario and federal
officials will continue discussions with a view to create teams of
dedicated provincial and federal prosecutors working together to take
action on gun and related drug crimes.
-
Expanded Provincial Weapons Enforcement Unit (PWEU)
— In January 2006, the McGuinty government announced that an
additional 15 OPP officers would be assigned to the PWEU. They have
been recruited, for a total of 58 officers in the unit.
-
Funding for Policing in High-Priority Areas —
The government has provided the Toronto Police Service with $5 million
in funding to strengthen its offensive against gangs in high-priority
areas of the city. This effort included the establishment of three
rapid response teams each consisting of 18 highly trained police
officers, specializing in drugs and guns interdiction to work on the
Toronto Anti-Violence Intervention Strategy. To date, police have seen
tremendous results including more than 5,420 arrests, the seizure of
more than 320 guns from the streets and establishing more than 36,030
business and community contacts. This funding also included $2 million
for the installation of security cameras at targeted locations, as well
as the expansion of the capacity of the police to obtain wiretap and
search warrants.
-
Major Crime Courts — The province is
establishing Major Crime Courts designed to increase the criminal
justice system's capacity to respond to large-scale, gun and
gang-related prosecutions. The first major crime courtroom, located at
361 University Avenue in Toronto, is now operational. The second,
located at 2201 Finch Avenue West in Toronto, is expected to be ready
by fall 2007. The courts will be equipped with higher levels of
security and be capable of dealing with multiple defendants. Three new
judges have been appointed to deal with the anticipated increase in the
volume of work.
-
1,000 Additional Police Officers — Under the
Safer Communities — 1,000 Officers Partnership program, about 970
officers, including 250 in Toronto, are or soon will be on duty. At the
request of municipal partners, the remaining 30 officers will be hired
and trained in early 2007.
-
Additional Probation and Parole Officers — The
government is hiring 12 new probation and parole officers to conduct
risk assessments on individuals accused of offences related to guns and
gangs. Three support staff have also been hired.
-
The Centre of Forensic Sciences — The government
has increased funding to the centre to expand its capacity to perform
ballistic testing and forensic analysis.
-
Bail Blitz Teams — The province has established
bail blitz teams, which consist of police, Crown prosecutors and duty
counsel working together to expedite the bail court process at certain
sites for criminal cases, including those involving guns. Teams are
working at College Park Courthouse and Old City Hall Courthouse in
Toronto and at the Ottawa Courthouse.
-
Calling on Federal Government — The Ontario
government called on the federal government to amend the Criminal Code
to:
-
implement mandatory minimum sentences for gun crimes
-
impose a reverse onus for bail for all gun crimes.
The federal government has recognized the need to change sentences.
Proposed federal legislation would also create two new Criminal Code
gun theft offenses — "robbery with intent to steal a gun" and
"breaking and entering with intent to steal a gun," and impose a
reverse onus for bail for all gun crimes.
We continue to call on the federal government to move as quickly as
possible to amend the Criminal Code to:
-
implement a handgun ban
-
set more severe penalties for breach of bail conditions
-
maintain the federal gun registry.
-
No Deals for Gun Offenders — Ontario Crown
prosecutors are instructed not to withdraw or plea-bargain
firearms-related offences unless there are exceptional circumstances.
The Crown must also seek appropriate sentences that will act as a
deterrent and, in appropriate cases, consider seeking sentences higher
than the mandatory minimum.
-
Gun Amnesty — The Project PEACE gun amnesty was
implemented by the Toronto Police Service and supported by the Ministry
of the Attorney General from November 7-30, 2005. A total of 261 guns,
including 33 handguns, and 1,554 rounds of ammunition were collected.
-
"Blitz" Inspections of Gun-Licensed Businesses in
Toronto — The government funded a blitz inspection of 32
gun-licensed businesses in Toronto in September 2005, to ensure gun
storage and safekeeping standards were being met. The Chief Firearms
Office is now incorporating unannounced inspections of gun-licensed
businesses across the province into its regular procedures. Previously,
most inspections were scheduled in advance.
-
Ontario's Witness Protection Program — The
program has been improved to encourage more community members to come
forward when they have witnessed a serious crime. The Ministry of the
Attorney General has improved short-term protection, and reduced the
red tape involved in obtaining admission to the program and receiving a
new identity. The Attorney General will continue to work with his
federal counterpart to improve the federal witness protection plan so
that it can work in a coordinated manner with Ontario's program.
-
Community Impact Evidence — The Ministry of the
Attorney General is implementing new and innovative ways for Crown
prosecutors to seek tougher sentences by developing and presenting
evidence to the court about the devastating impact of gun violence on
individuals and communities.
BEING TOUGH ON THE CAUSES OF CRIME
- 30 -
Contacts:
Brendan Crawley
Ministry of the Attorney General Communications Branch
(416) 326-2210
|
|
Disponible en français
|