Patrick Brown Blames Toronto Gang Activity For Increasing Crime In Brampton

Brampton | Ontario | Latest News |

Published September 19, 2019 at 12:38 am

Brampton City Council and Mayor Patrick Brown are trying to find solutions to combat the large increase of crime in Brampton and much of the Peel Region. 

Brampton City Council and Mayor Patrick Brown are trying to find solutions to combat the large increase of crime in Brampton and much of the Peel Region. 

According to the Peel Police 2018 Annual Report, there were 26 homicide victims in 2018, which is an increase of 63 per cent since 2017. There were also 242 victims of stabbings in the year, an increase of 55 per cent since 2017. Around 53 people were victims of shootings, which accounts for an increase of 33 per cent.

Gun violence has also been a major problem for Peel Police. In 2018, police seized 459 firearms and investigated 504 potential shootings, which is an increase of 18 per cent since 2017.

Just in the last week, there have been multiple reported stabbings and shootings. 

On September 16, a fatal shooting on Highway 410 in Brampton left one dead and another injured. On the same day, officers attended a residence on Checkerberry Crescent in Brampton in regards to a woman suffering from life-threatening injuries. The victim’s husband, a 64-year-old man, was located inside the residence and was arrested for attempted murder.

Many Brampton residents have expressed their frustration and now so has the mayor.

Recently, Brown took to Twitter to state that Toronto’s crime is spilling into the Peel Region. 

“I am sick and tired of 416 gang activity spilling over into Peel Region. We still have not received any of the gun and gang funding that Toronto and Ottawa received. This is yet another reminder that gang activity doesn’t respect postal codes. The province needs to look at the bigger picture,” tweeted Brown. 

In August, the federal and provincial governments contributed $1.5 million each to fighting gun violence in Toronto.

They also announced that they will provide the province with $65 million over five years to fund the following initiatives: 

  • Combat human trafficking, including enhancements to survivor supports, investments in dedicated prosecution resources, and future enhancements to the Safer and Vital Communities Grant Program.
  • Create a new Intensive Firearm Bail Team in Peel to support bail hearings and proceedings for gun-related offences in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
  • Establish a GTA/Greater Golden Horseshoe (GGH) Gun and Gang Fund, focused on supporting projects and partnerships in the GTA and GGH, including Toronto, Durham Regional, Halton Regional, Peel Regional, York Regional, Niagara Regional and Hamilton Police Services.
  • Create a new Eastern Ontario Gun and Gang Team that will work closely with the Ottawa Police Service. The East Region team is staffed with four Assistant Crown Attorneys, who will provide prosecutorial support for complex investigative projects and intensive firearms and gang-specific bail strategy.

Mayor Tory replied to Brown’s criticism to state that gun violence is not a city problem, but a regional one.

“These are tragedies that affect families and neighbourhoods. They happen in different parts of the region. It is a regional problem and it will require a regional solution in the sense of all the governments working together,” said Tory. “My understanding is that there is provincial money right now that exists so people in other communities besides Toronto can apply for those funds and I would certainly be very supportive of the Region of Peel, Brampton and Mississauga getting the money that will help them fight guns and gangs.”

Later, Brown took to Twitter once again to reply to Tory’s statement.

“I appreciate that John Tory expressed that Peel Region merits the same funding opportunities to combat gun and gangs that Toronto has received. We need regional solutions,” tweeted Brown.

He continued by sharing that Brampton, which has also had a spike in crime, needs the same support Toronto gets. 

“It has been a long-standing Peel Police request to be eligible for the provincial gun and gang funding…The fact that 60 per cent of the Peel homicides are gang-related is astonishing and clear proof we need this help too,” tweeted Brown. “According to Peel Police, our gang activity is from gangs that identify themselves with Toronto community-based names but their members are dispersed throughout the GTA including Peel Region.”

What do you think about Mayor Patrick Brown’s concerns? 

Photo courtesy of Twitter

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