2004 Annual Report

CISC NATIONAL MONITORED ISSUES
There are numerous street gangs in Ontario that were initially formed from
singular ethnic groups but are now increasingly multi-ethnic. In some
instances, street gangs conduct criminal activities for other organized crime
groups and serve to shield them from law enforcement. While the majority of
street gangs are independent groups involved in their own criminal activities,
there may be some criminal linkages with other street gangs or established
crime groups. They are situated in most urban centres with the greater Toronto
area having the largest concentration of gangs. In this area, the gangs have
been involved in violent rivalries with numerous assaults and homicides.
In Quebec, the main street gangs are Caribbean-based though other ethnicbased
groups are increasingly emerging. Two major Quebec-based street
gangs have expanded and now are criminally active in parts of Ontario. These
street gangs are in a position to exploit weaknesses within the established
crime groups in the province, such as the HELLS ANGELS.
Law enforcement across Canada is cognizant of the overall threat of street
gangs to public safety through their criminal activities and propensity for
violence. Through dedicated units and targeted enforcement operations, law
enforcement will continue to combat street gang crime and violence to
enhance public safety.
Outlook
• A high propensity for violence will continue to be a significant
component of most street gangs in Canada, particularly in their
interactions with rival gangs.
• Some street gangs will evolve and enhance their capability to engage
in more sophisticated forms of criminal activity with wider scope and
greater magnitude. As a result, conflicts that threaten public safety
could emerge between street gangs and more established organized
crime groups.
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