The Toronto Police Service announced the results of Project Community Space, a 15-week initiative to address gun and gang violence across Toronto.
Through the Project, police visibility was increased in high risk areas and officers were focused on making arrests, enforcing bail compliance, laying criminal charges and getting firearms off the street.
Superintendent Steve Watts of Organized Crime Enforcement provided the results on behalf of Chief Mark Saunders.
“The project was successful, and our specialized approach allowed officers to make hundreds of arrests, lay over 1,145 charges and seize just under 250 guns, taking them off the streets, and out of reach of those who use them for criminal activity.”
He continued, “Of the 463 arrests, 97 people were out on firearm-related bails. Sixteen of those individuals were charged with a new gun-related offence as well as other charges, and the remaining charges included many violent offences, including robbery, forcible confinement, assault and sexual assault,” he said.
Project Community Space was about prevention and working with communities. Officers were deployed across the city to where they were needed most. The project was intelligence-led and included the monitoring of bail compliance, proactive engagement with communities and the increased presence and visibility of Toronto Police officers in areas experiencing street gang activity and gun violence.
Launched in August, the project received $4.5m funding from three levels of government and involved the strategic deployment of frontline and specialized officers working under the direction of the Integrated Gun and Gang Task Force.
The initiative was planned for 11 weeks to address gun and gang violence in communities across Toronto over the summer. In October, Chief Mark Saunders extended the project by four weeks as a result of continued gun and gang related incidents and community concern.
The total project generated the following results:
Arrests and Charges:
- 463 arrests and 1,145 charges laid
- 28% (317) of charges were firearms-related
- nearly 20% (212) of charges were for breach of bail conditions or Failure to Comply
- in addition to the firearm related offences, 11% (121) were for other violent offences.
Firearm-bails:
- 97 people who were out on bail for firearm-related charges were arrested
- 16 of the 97 (16%) were charged with a new firearm-related offence, 12 of the 16 were kept in custody
- 81 of the 97 were charged with other offences, many including violent offences including robbery, assault with a weapon, sexual assault and drug crimes.
Bail compliance checks:
- 2,392 bail compliance checks were conducted
- 88 offenders were found to be non-compliant
- 46 of those offenders were arrested
- 36 of those offenders are wanted on warrants
The bail compliance surge effectively increases awareness of those on bail that police are actively enforcing bail conditions.
Gun seizures:
- approximately 247 firearms to date were seized, service-wide, removing the guns from circulation and potentially criminal activity.
Community referrals:
- Officers worked with communities and made 89 referrals to people seeking assistance, including to the Gang Exit Program, Youth Diversion Program, and Focus Tables.
Gang Prevention Town Halls:
- the Integrated Gun and Gang Task Force hosted 17 gang prevention town halls. The remaining 14 sessions will be held in December and 2020.
Superintendent Watts said, “Moving forward as a Service, and with the support of our partners, we are developing a sustainable and more robust strategy to address gun violence with an approach that is proactive, preventative and response focused, to keep our communities safe.”
This enhanced approach will be funded by reallocating existing Service funds and Chief Saunders will announce details at a later time.
The Service is implementing new shift schedules which will support an increase in proactive policing and enforcement, allowing the Service to respond more quickly to calls for service, and also increase community safety and engagement activities. The Service’s proposed 2020 Budget includes investments in hiring new officers for Priority Response which will also serve to make communities safer by allowing an increased presence of officers across the city.
For more information:
Corporate Communications
416-808-7100
For more news, visit TPSnews.ca.
Through the Project, police visibility was increased in high risk areas and officers were focused on making arrests, enforcing bail compliance, laying criminal charges and getting firearms off the street.
Superintendent Steve Watts of Organized Crime Enforcement provided the results on behalf of Chief Mark Saunders.
“The project was successful, and our specialized approach allowed officers to make hundreds of arrests, lay over 1,145 charges and seize just under 250 guns, taking them off the streets, and out of reach of those who use them for criminal activity.”
He continued, “Of the 463 arrests, 97 people were out on firearm-related bails. Sixteen of those individuals were charged with a new gun-related offence as well as other charges, and the remaining charges included many violent offences, including robbery, forcible confinement, assault and sexual assault,” he said.
Project Community Space was about prevention and working with communities. Officers were deployed across the city to where they were needed most. The project was intelligence-led and included the monitoring of bail compliance, proactive engagement with communities and the increased presence and visibility of Toronto Police officers in areas experiencing street gang activity and gun violence.
Launched in August, the project received $4.5m funding from three levels of government and involved the strategic deployment of frontline and specialized officers working under the direction of the Integrated Gun and Gang Task Force.
The initiative was planned for 11 weeks to address gun and gang violence in communities across Toronto over the summer. In October, Chief Mark Saunders extended the project by four weeks as a result of continued gun and gang related incidents and community concern.
The total project generated the following results:
Arrests and Charges:
- 463 arrests and 1,145 charges laid
- 28% (317) of charges were firearms-related
- nearly 20% (212) of charges were for breach of bail conditions or Failure to Comply
- in addition to the firearm related offences, 11% (121) were for other violent offences.
Firearm-bails:
- 97 people who were out on bail for firearm-related charges were arrested
- 16 of the 97 (16%) were charged with a new firearm-related offence, 12 of the 16 were kept in custody
- 81 of the 97 were charged with other offences, many including violent offences including robbery, assault with a weapon, sexual assault and drug crimes.
Bail compliance checks:
- 2,392 bail compliance checks were conducted
- 88 offenders were found to be non-compliant
- 46 of those offenders were arrested
- 36 of those offenders are wanted on warrants
The bail compliance surge effectively increases awareness of those on bail that police are actively enforcing bail conditions.
Gun seizures:
- approximately 247 firearms to date were seized, service-wide, removing the guns from circulation and potentially criminal activity.
Community referrals:
- Officers worked with communities and made 89 referrals to people seeking assistance, including to the Gang Exit Program, Youth Diversion Program, and Focus Tables.
Gang Prevention Town Halls:
- the Integrated Gun and Gang Task Force hosted 17 gang prevention town halls. The remaining 14 sessions will be held in December and 2020.
Superintendent Watts said, “Moving forward as a Service, and with the support of our partners, we are developing a sustainable and more robust strategy to address gun violence with an approach that is proactive, preventative and response focused, to keep our communities safe.”
This enhanced approach will be funded by reallocating existing Service funds and Chief Saunders will announce details at a later time.
The Service is implementing new shift schedules which will support an increase in proactive policing and enforcement, allowing the Service to respond more quickly to calls for service, and also increase community safety and engagement activities. The Service’s proposed 2020 Budget includes investments in hiring new officers for Priority Response which will also serve to make communities safer by allowing an increased presence of officers across the city.
For more information:
Corporate Communications
416-808-7100
For more news, visit TPSnews.ca.