Awareness key weapon in confronting gang issue

BY BRENT FOX

The Advertiser

NovaNewsNow.com

They aren’t in the Valley yet, but organized gangs have appeared in other Maritime communities.

However, young people have to be careful how they dress or behave when visiting central Canada or the U.S. to avoid becoming gang victims.

Csts. Greg Byrne and Les Kakonyi of Kings RCMP spoke on the topic of organized gangs to the Kings Crime Prevention Association Tuesday, March 25.

The aim of police in such presentations is to provide awareness to prevent or reduce the incidents of youth becoming involved with organized crime as perpetrators or victims.

Though there is a street gang in Spryfield, there is no youth gang culture in the province, yet. Kakonyi noted, though, “like everything else, it will eventually get here.”

Gang members make themselves noticed by graffiti, tattoos and clothing. Kakonyi said gangs have been a factor in North American life for decades, including the Chicago gangsters of the 1920s and ‘30s.

But numbers accelerated since the Second World War, when bike gangs grew out of groups of war veterans becoming motorcycle enthusiasts. Bike gangs started to develop in Canada by the 1970s.

In fact, something as mundane as a folk festival at Hardwood Lands, Hants County, about a quarter-century ago attracted the attention of bike gang members.

Kakonyi pointed out, as well, that gang membership – bike, street or youth – attracts people from across the social spectrum. “It’s not only troubled youth who are attracted to gangs. Street gangs are all money-driven.”

Crimes in which the gangs engage include drugs, extortion, robberies, assaults and murder.

One gang, so far

Byrne noted that street gangs gained in notoriety in the early 1970s with the Crips and Bloods out of California. “They’re still rival gangs, though there are talks to mash the two. And if they do, they will be a problem.”

In Nova Scotia, the only street gang is the Spryfield mob. In Moncton, there are the Eastsiders.

Byrne said gangs are defined as an ongoing association for criminal activities. People join for prestige or power, friendship and brotherhood, protection and security, to belong, and the glorified lifestyle.

The gang members adhere to the concept of the three ‘Rs’: reputation, respect and retaliation and revenge.

Communications are verbal, hand signs and monikers, which mean nothing to the average citizen.

Gangs also ‘tag’ their turf in neighbourhoods with symbols or initials. If those symbols are tampered with, the gangs take it as a sign of disrespect and act accordingly with violence.

As well, gangs commit their crimes in broad daylight. “It’s all very visible with gangs, as opposed to other criminals, who keep low.”

Across Canada, there are Asian, aboriginal and other ethnic gangs and gangs that are cultural mixes. Recruiting is done through schools, mall and clubs.

Byrne pointed out that though there are no youth gangs in the province yet, local young people could still fall victim to them if they’re traveling.

For example, dressing like a gang member or using the wrong hand signals could land a young person in jeopardy if he or she were to arrive in the wrong neighbourhood in Montreal or other large centre where there are youth or street gangs.

However, police are prepared to deal with youth gangs if they come to the province. They have the resources to target street gangs.