Prince George, B.C.-  There is a shifting paradigm when it comes to potential victims of Gang activity.

“Women are just as much a target now, as the guys” says Sergeant Shinder Kirk of the Uniformed Gang Task Force.

Sgt.Kirk was delivering the key note address at the Anti-Gang Summit in Prince George and says anyone can be recruited for gang activity. “Don’t shut your mind that because someone is a pillar of the community they cannot be involved. Open your mind, it can be anybody.” Sgt. Kirk   told the summit gang membership is not limited to those who are “from the wrong side of the tracks”. He says  young people from middle and upper class families are just as involved. “I know of one who has a university degree, I know of a former police officer who now offers counter intelligence consulting to whichever gang hires him.” 

Sergeant Raj Sidhu (in photo at right) is with the special 14 member Gang Task Force  in Prince George. He says the situation in Prince George is very fluid “Some who are members of the  Independent soldiers today, could become members of the Game Tight Soldiers tomorrow.” He says Prince George is the hub city with transportation routes of highways airports which link the drug trade throughout the north.

Sgt. Kirk says in his opinion, there are three key things which can reduce the risk of young people getting involved in gangs:

1.       Prevention: the education of young people, teachers, parents, about the truth about gangs.

2.       Intervention : the frontline agencies who can share information about youth at risk and develop a plan to address the issues.

3.       Enforcement

“Getting involved with youth doesn’t take a lot of money. How much does a soccer ball cost? How much does a football cost? How much does it cost to use the school gym after hours? You can sit back and wait for the provincial government to come across with money or you can make the investment on your own” says Sgt Kirk.