As per the Report on Organised Crime by the Criminal Intelligence Service Canada, law enforcement agencies have observed an upsurge in the count of street gangs across Canada. These gangs in Canada continue to threaten local communities. The Waterloo Regional Police Service projected that there were roughly 20 active street gangs in the Region and 300 to 400 youth directly involved in gangs. If considering associated involved in the gang activity, the integer will climb to about 1000.
Risks and Attraction to Gang Life:
Obviously, it is true that the vast majority of young people never gets involved in crime or join gangs. Only those who do join gangs tend to have specific risk factors that influence their membership and participation. The influence that contributes to a youth’s decision to join a gang usually fall into two categories such as risk and attraction.
People become bolder in groups and individuals will do things that they would never dream of doing on their own. Since isolation and alienation already present in many of these individuals’ lives. However street gangs are able to influence the youth mind to become a part of their group. They do it by making them comfortable and turning their minds. Thus in exchange, the youth mass will typically contribute the gang.
Gang Prevention or Suppression:
The occurrence of gangs and the crimes committed by gang members increasing day by day. May the gang activity is not a new issue for the community, however, it definitely leads to severe contemporary problems. So for the reason of public safety concerns posed by criminal gangs.
Now the government is demonstrating all the possible ways in fighting crime. They also promoted expanding current national government programs to address gang crime.
It seems the actions taken by the national in combating gang recruitment and retention is not sufficient for the gang prevention or suppression. So corrective action should be taken to resolve the issue.