 |
CALGARY -- Ridding Calgary streets of armoured vehicles could become the next tool in the police arsenal to combat gang activity, says Alberta's justice minister.
Amendments to provincial legislation passed in November allow courts to confiscate property used to commit crimes, but Calgary MLA and Alberta Justice Minister Alison Redford said the government is considering laws giving police the ability to seize armoured vehicles as well.
"I've had discussions with police in Calgary about other legislation for the spring that they think would be helpful, (such as) the ability to seize vehicles that have been armoured and hidden compartments," Redford said.
"We're looking at legislation that will allow police to act very quickly ... probably looking at amendments to provincial legislation in the area of transportation and registration requirements -- we're still exploring that."
Those discussions come on the heels of a violent start to 2009, which saw the deadliest attack in the city's gang war with a triple murder at a local restaurant.
The shooting, which killed innocent victim Keni Su'a, gang member Sanjeev Mann and his associate Aaron Bendle, prompted Calgary's police chief to vow to turn up the heat on organized crime groups through the new proceeds-of-crime legislation and by pursuing gang members for any illegal offence.
Yesterday, Redford received a call from Jonathan Denis, MLA for Calgary Egmont, whose riding was shaken with the New Year's Day triple murder. Denis, who attended a moving memorial service on Saturday for Su'a, said the murder close to home was a wake-up call for him that even more needs to be done at a local level and in the justice system.
"Some of the people who have no respect for laws have to belong behind bars," he said. "I'd like to see more dialogue between government and community associations in the city."
Calgary-McCall MLA Darshan Kang said the current laws allowing courts to seize vehicles used to commit crimes like delivering drugs, in addition to profits gained from unlawful acts, is "a step in the right direction," but giving police more tools to combat gang activity in the province is key.
"Police should be given all tools -- more police officers for investigating and charging people," he said.
"Mr. Su'a ... he lost his life and now how many more innocent people have to pay with their life before we do anything?"