News Release

Ontario Holds Groundbreaking Conference On Guns And Gangs Cases

Experts From Across Canada Develop Best Practices For Investigating And Prosecuting Mega Trials

November 14, 2006

News

TORONTO — Members of Ontario's Guns and Gangs Task Force and other organized crime experts came together at a groundbreaking conference to share strategies and tactics for investigating and prosecuting large-scale mega trials, Attorney General Michael Bryant announced today.

"Ontario is leading the way on this front," said Bryant. "As part of our government's fight against guns and gangs and all types of violence, we are ensuring our Crown prosecutors are equipped with the most current and cutting-edge information so that they can best prosecute these mega trials."

The conference, opened by the Attorney General, was held over five days last week in Toronto, and was the first of its kind in Canada. Speakers from the Toronto Police Service, the Ontario Provincial Police, the Federal Prosecution Service, the Centre of Forensic Sciences, as well as experts in search and seizure, proceeds of crime, organized crime and firearms and explosives, shared their knowledge and strategies for successfully prosecuting large-scale mega trials.

"While Crowns continually update their prosecutorial skills, this is the first time very important issues like firearms, proceeds of crime, wiretap evidence and bail have been presented completely in the context of gang and large-scale prosecutions," said Bryant. "These mega trials are relatively new and they require a new approach. For example, our Crowns learned how to use the latest technology to effectively present the kinds of unique and complex evidence these cases involve."

The McGuinty government is committed to fighting gun crime. That is why it is implementing a $51-million package of initiatives, including:

• Expanding the number of Crown prosecutors working on the Guns and Gangs Task Force. Currently, 56 Crown prosecutors have been assigned to this task force, and more will be in position by late fall. When fully staffed, the task force will have 64 Crowns, including dedicated prosecutors working in every region of the province.
• Establishing a state-of-the-art provincial operations centre to allow for highly co-ordinated investigations and prosecutions of gun and gang-related offences. Scheduled to open in January 2007, it will be located at an undisclosed location in the Greater Toronto Area. When open, the centre will house the Guns and Gangs Task Force, which includes the Toronto Police Service, Ontario Provincial Police, a team of specialized Crown prosecutors, support staff, probation and parole officers and a victims unit.
• Fast-tracking the hiring of 1,000 additional police officers. Currently, about 800 additional officers are or will soon be on the street. The McGuinty government has provided the funding to allow police services to hire the remaining 200 officers by the end of the year.
• Constructing specialized, high-security major crime courts to accommodate large-scale, gun and gang prosecutions. The first of these courts, at 361 University Avenue in Toronto, will be open this fall. Another, at 2201 Finch Avenue West in Toronto, is expected to open next year.

"In Ontario, organized crime of all types is meeting organized justice," said Bryant. "We now have a crime-fighting operation in place like never before. I am confident that the positive effects of innovative initiatives like this mega trial conference will be felt across the province for some time to come."

Contacts

Greg Crone
Minister's Office
(416) 326-1785

Brendan Crawley
Communications Branch
(416) 326-2210

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