Surrey B.C.-    The Province  is  adding another $23 million dollars  over three years to its guns and gangs strategy to  continue to battle gangs in B.C..

While the  announcement was made in Surrey,   Premier Christy Clark  says the problem is not  limited to that area “What is happening with gangs is not a Surrey problem , it’s a British Columbia problem.”  

She says  when  gangs are cracked down in one city “just like cockroaches”  they move to another community. 

We will not rest until will put to rest this cycle of violence in this city and others in the Province.” 

Two  additional  10 person integrated  police teams will be  developed.

RCMP Deputy Commissioner Craig Callens who is  in charge of CFSEU (Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit)   welcomed  the  increased resources “Simply put ,  an increase in our resources will allow us to target more offenders in more  communities more often.” 

The funding will be delivered immediately  and  CFSEU  will start identifying RCMP and other Police  Service officers   who  would be  appropriate  for this work. 

The exact location of the  new  units  is not clear  as Deputy Commissioner Callens says that would  be “premature”. 

The  funding will also support  increased rewards for those who contact Crime Stoppers  to tip off  police to  gang activity. 

She also  made a call for those who want to leave  gang life,  to call  the RCMP   ” Gang life  leads  nowhere except to jail,  or to a coffin.   It’s not too late  to change course,  if you want to get out of gang life,  call the RCMP, let us help you.” 

Solicitor General Mike Morris also called for public involvement,  saying it is critical for  the  members of the community to  help police  by   giving them information that will lead to arrests and convictions.