By The Canadian Press

BC pumps $23M into anti-gang effort

Apr 15, 2016 | 11:47 AM

SURREY, B.C. — British Columbia’s premier says a boost of $23 million for a guns and gangs strategy is an effort to increase public safety across the province.

Christy Clark was flanked by the public safety minister, senior police officers and the mayor of Surrey as she announced the government’s latest initiative to combat gangs.

While Surrey has had more than 30 shootings so far this year, Clark says initiatives such as increasing the number of police officers and prosecutors are aimed at fighting gangs in every region of B.C.

She says gangsters are just like cockroaches who will simply escape tough enforcement in one area and go elsewhere.

Clark says the province is also reviewing legislation on access to firearms and electronic monitoring for people awaiting court dates.

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RCMP deputy commissioner Craig Callens says the extra funding will increase the number of officers for the province’s anti-gang unit and provide dedicated prosecutors who will follow offenders through the court system.

The Canadian Press