(Montreal) The Government of Quebec will pay $5.7 million over five years to the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) so that it can lend a hand to the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) in its fight against armed violence in the metropolis.
The announcement was made Monday morning at SQ headquarters on Parthenais Street in Montreal by Public Security Minister François Bonnardel.
“Montreal is in the throes of a wave of gun violence, especially during the summer. It’s a task force that we are announcing, a common front that we are forming, a new era of collaboration”, launched the Minister.
The 5.7 million will be used to set up a new team of 10 police officers who will carry out visibility operations in licensed establishments and places known to be frequented by subjects at risk, much like it is already case in the north and south shores of Montreal.
The team will also be made up of investigators and intelligence analysts whose mandate will be to identify and apprehend suspicious individuals.
“We have put together a unique and specialized team. We are going to come to the SPVM as reinforcements, ”summarized Pierre-Mathieu Vivier, deputy director of the Criminal Investigations Department of the Sûreté du Québec.
THE SPVM proactive
However, the new team will not be operational before 1er October despite the fact that it is generally during the summer that armed violence is most frequent.
But Chief Inspector David Bertrand, head of specialized investigations at the SPVM, was reassuring.
“We will be everywhere this summer. We will not be responsive. We have already targeted groups and individuals at risk. We have formed four collectives to fight against armed violence, at all levels. Even the masterminds of organized crime are targeted,” he said, while being very aware that the summer is likely to be hot, not only in low-level organized crime, but also in high rank.
battle on other fronts
Minister Bonnardel indicated that his government has already invested 300 million in the fight against organized crime in Quebec and armed violence in the Montreal region.
The Press pointed out, however, that a little over a year ago, the head of the Permanent Anti-Corruption Unit (UPAC), Frédéric Gaudreau, asked Quebec to put pressure on the federal government to change the laws so as to facilitate the disclosure and processing of evidence in increasingly complex investigations.
A few days ago, the acting boss of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s C Division organized crime team, Sergeant Dominic Duchesneau, told The Press that the federal government should make “significant legislative changes” to facilitate the sharing of information between law enforcement agencies in Canada and abroad, the monitoring of criminals and the interception of their encrypted communications.
“Meetings with the federal government have taken place. There will be others. There is no closed door with Ottawa. We are in collaboration with them. They are aware that the laws should be stricter. The communication channel is good. We must do everything to support the work of the police,” said Mr. Bonnardel.
To reach Daniel Renaud, dial 514 285-7000, ext. 4918, write to [email protected] or write to the postal address of The Press.