Several law enforcement agencies, including the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), Anishinabek and North Bay police, are working towards implementing a province-wide Guns and Gangs Enforcement Strategy.
Thanks to over $75 in provincial funding, the OPP-led Guns and Gangs Joint-Forces Operation (JFO) is expected to increase intelligence sharing and provide additional enforcement tools.
Officials say the JFO enables law enforcement partners to better collaborate to enhance public safety and effectively disrupt gang networks and their criminal activities.
Sudbury and Timmins police are also among the 21 law enforcement agencies involved.
“There is no place for gun and gang violence in Ontario,” says Michael Kerzner, Solicitor General. “Our government’s investment of more than $75 million will provide law enforcement with the tools necessary to keep Ontario communities safe by enhancing investigative supports, increasing collaboration and curbing the flow of illegal handguns coming into the province from the U.S.“
A few police agencies in southern and eastern Ontario have also been added to the OPP-led Provincial Weapons Enforcement Unit (PWEU).