In dealing with the phenomenon of street gangs, the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) takes every necessary measure (both preventive and coercive). Based on four axes of intervention, the SPVM works to maintain Montrealers’ sense of security.

Shared responsibility

Measures taken by the SPVM

Four axes of intervention

Organizational structure

Partnerships

Shared responsibility

Everyone shares in the responsibility of putting the brakes on the phenomenon of street gangs. The Police Service cannot do it alone. The phenomenon is related to a number of social factors that calls for a concerted approach at every level of society. Cooperation and vigilance on the part of parents, families, educators and community and school players are crucial.

The SPVM also counts on the testimony of victims and witnesses of street gang activities.

Measures taken by the SPVM

The Police Service is taking a number of measures to maintain the citizens’ sense of security and curb the phenomenon of street gangs:

• Applying the law.
• Mobilizing stakeholders and working together.
• Maintaining visibility, especially in target areas.
• Strengthening relationship with the community to discuss solutions.
• Pooling resources, competencies and knowledge .
• Informing staff and the public about the street gang phenomenon and raising awareness.

In addition, the SPVM monitors the street gang phenomenon throughout Québec by cooperating on issues related to gang activity and maintaining vigilance. It also works with Sûreté du Québec, to collect information in various regions.

Four axes of intervention

The SPVM’s approach for dealing with the phenomenon of street gangs is based on four axes of intervention. In addition to suppression, it uses prevention, communication and research.

Suppression
To counter the phenomenon using coercive measures.

Prevention
To help youth, parents, stakeholders and the public take action against street gangs and continue to curb the phenomenon.

Communication
To promote understanding, to support prevention, suppression and research, and to maintain trusting relationships.

Research
To learn more about the phenomenon and evaluate the impact on crime and the citizens’ sense of security.

Organizational structure

The Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) has established an organizational structure largely rooted in multidisciplinary teams in the four regional Services (North, South, East, West), in partnerships (like the partnership with the Sans frontières group), but including connections with other police services and institutional and community organizations. Every entity that can help is called to action.

The mandate of the SPVM steering committee is to identify corporate strategies and orient the actions of the multidisciplinary and operational support teams that work in each of the regional Services. The committee also maintains links with a number of corporate and institutional partners to make sure that all actions mesh with the integrated approach.

The steering committee and the multidisciplinary teams promote the use of coercive and preventive measures that form an integral part of overall police activities. In order to develop lasting solutions, its members also keep open lines of communication to ensure coherent action and work to raise awareness among the network of stakeholders.

Likewise, the SPVM participates in the Ville de Montréal steering committee on street gangs, which has a mandate to develop and implement an integrated action plan to counteract and permanently reduce the phenomenon of street gangs in Montréal. It also supports the boroughs and corporate services affected by the phenomenon.

The Ville de Montréal steering committee’s action plan integrates police approaches and social development, presenting and implementing an intervention model (primary, secondary and tertiary prevention).

Partnerships

It is important for the SPVM to draw on its partnerships to find lasting solutions for this phenomenon and offer other options for young people.

In November 2002, street gangs were added to the list of national priorities, and in December of the same year the SPVM joined the task force mandated by Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada’s National Coordinating Committee on Organized Crime and the Comité de coordination des efforts de lutte au crime organisé (CELCO). .

Public Security Ministry’s task force on street gangs

A task force on street gangs was established in 2004 by the Quebec Public Security Ministry, under the auspices of the Comité de coordination des efforts de lutte au crime organisé (CELCO).

Its goals are:

• To identify the main initiatives implemented to prevent and take action against the phenomenon of street gangs in Quebec.
• To identify the problems Quebec is currently encountering as it takes action against street gangs.
• To develop an action plan to correct these problems, improving the coordination of interventions and increasing their effectiveness.

Sans frontières group

The SPVM coordinates the Sans frontières group, created in 2003 as a unified force involving the Montréal and Longueuil, police services, Sûreté du Québec and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

This group targets major gangs with suppressive actions.

Neighbourhood police stations

Every neighbourhood station has developed partnerships with organizations in its sector to meet the needs of the public and offer the services needed in the area.

To find out more

Actualités Gangs de rue

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