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Gang Information
What is a gang?
To the police and other Canadian law agencies a gang can be classified as a group of two or more individuals consorting together for the purpose of unlawful activity.
Street gangs come in a variety of sizes. They may have only three or four members or as many as a hundred or more. Gangs are always changing and sometimes split or take over other ones. Gangs have been known to claim colors such as red or blue, a trend that started as far back as the late 18th century.
How are gangs organized?
Some gangs operate with a clear leadership and strict rules. They have ranks that establish order such as president, vice-president, and board members. Most gangs are loosely knit groups and likely to have several leaders. If one leader is removed, other members are in waiting to take over.
Common reasons to join a gang:
- Stand-in-family: They join a gang to get attention and protection that isn’t offered at home.
- Recognition: Some join gangs to feel wanted and important if they are not doing well in school or at their job. If they don’t see themselves as the “smart ones” or as being successful they join these gangs where they can succeed.
- Tradition and Hero imitation: Here they join the gang because family members or others they see as role models joined before them.
- Lack of choices/Threats: Gangs are joined due to either heavy peer pressure, or poor life choices.
- Money: Gangs make joining very attractive by offering money from criminal activity and illegal drugs. This may be very hard to turn down especially by someone in need of some extra money.
- Protection: Some join gangs to get extra security. Fellow gang members help protect them from outsiders or help to get revenge against others.
The City of Brandon has been experiencing a rapid growth in street gangs. This is a great worry for both the parents and educators of the young people who are at risk of being drawn into this life style.
Signs of possible gang involvement:
- Baseball cap worn to the left or the right.
- Tattoos out of the ordinary, or of unexplained symbols.
- Money coming from an unexplained source.
- Clothes with particular colors and sport team identification.
- New friends that parents are not acquainted with and whom they are not allowed to meet.
- Unexplained signs and symbols on books, folders, clothes and personal belongings.
- Truancy or poor progress in school.
- Frequent negative contacts with police.
What to do if you suspect your child is involved in a gang:
- Don’t ignore suspicions, talk to your child.
- Watch for some of the above signs.
- Listen to conversations you child has with friends or new acquaintances.
- Check you child’s room periodically for any symbols or signs.
- Talk to your child’s teachers about any of your suspicions.
Visit the Manitoba Justice "Project Gang-Proof" website for more information at: http://www.gov.mb.ca/justice/safe/gangproof/
For more information contact Brandon Police Service 729-2345
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