The Annual Winter Route Parking Ban is in effect

Gang prevention and exiting strategies

Providing support for at risk individuals

The Winnipeg Police Service can help individuals at risk of being involved in gang activity. We can connect at-risk individuals with necessary supports where possible through government and community agencies.

Are you, or do you know an at-risk individual? Do you need help?

Reach out or send a referral to the Winnipeg Police Service Gang Prevention Coordinator

There are three ways to get help:

What is a gang?

  • A group of three or more persons who commit crimes for material benefit and/or financial benefit.
  • They may identify themselves through a common name, symbol, color, sign, graffiti or clothing.

Signs/Indicators someone may benefit from a referral to the Winnipeg Police Service Gang Prevention Coordinator

  • Active / Admitted gang members
  • Siblings of active gang members
  • Associates with gang members
  • Sexually xxploited females
  • Associates with other wannabee gang members
  • Possible / Known gang intentions of recruitment
  • Easily influenced individual
  • Drug dealers
  • Escalating criminal behavior
  • First time young offenders
  • Limited family and positive supports
  • Becomes withdrawn from regular activities
  • Engages in vandalism or delinquent behavior
  • Has a sibling who is already a known gang member
  • Limited family support and may be relied on to support themselves
  • Limited positive supports

Possible signs of a person at-risk for gang enrollment

  • Owns more than one cell phone
  • Isolated from friends and family  
  • Shows signs of tobacco, alcohol or drug use
  • Changes circle of friends and desire too much privacy
  • Carries a weapon or conceals personal items
  • Makes impulsive and/or excessive purchases (clothes, jewelry, car, etc.)
  • Has large sums of money from an unexplained source
  • Uses a gang's specific colors, emblems or hand signals
  • Has had negative interactions with police

Where Do Gangs Recruit?

  • School
  • Parks
  • Parties
  • Recreation centers
  • Through friends
  • In your own back yard
  • Online

Facts about gangs

  • The majority of gang members are male.
  • Almost half of gang members are under age 18.
  • Gang members are from all races, cultures, social economic groups.
  • The goal of a gang is to participate in illegal activities using violence and intimidation.
  • Females in gangs are regularly utilized in the sex trade and/or exploited.

Parents can help kids to stay away from gang activity by:

  • Spending quality time with their children and getting involved in their education.
  • Knowing thier children's friends and their families.
  • Teaching their children how to cope with peer pressure.
  • Helping children develop good conflict/resolution skills.
  • Encouraging children to participate in positive after school activities with adult supervision (e.g. organized sports, youth groups).
  • Challenging thier children's whereabouts.

Resources available

Parents, teachers, school counsellors, youth workers, elders and other community members play a vital role in helping children and youth to avoid gang involvement. Services are available for you to call upon and may be found in the attached resource guides:

Manitoba 211

211 Manitoba

  • A searchable online database of government, health, and social services that are available across Manitoba.
  • The service helps Manitobans who are looking to find the right community or social resource but don’t know where to start.
  • Services are grouped together into categories that include food and clothing, housing and homelessness, health, mental health, employment, newcomers, children and parenting, and youth.
  • Manitoba 211 offers a comprehensive database for youth services

project Gang Proof

Manitoba Justice Project Gang Proof Resource Line

  • 1-800-691-4264 a non-emergency resource line for youth, parents and others dealing with gang-related issues.
  • Callers will be referred to the appropriate resources.

Manitoba Government

Turnabout Program

  • Winnipeg (204) 945-5609 / Manitoba 1-866-276-5081
  • Assists children under 12 who have come into conflict with the law.
  • The program is a partnership between provincial agencies, community groups and local police services.
 

Gang Prevention Videos

Click on the icon in the top right corner of the video to see all the crime prevention videos in this collection.

Was this information helpful?

How can we make this web page better?

Information collected will be used to improve our website. Do not use this form to submit a request for service or information because it will not be forwarded to departments for response. To submit a request for service or information, contact 311.

This form is not intended to collect personal information; however, any personal information you choose to include in your comments is collected by the City of Winnipeg under the authority of section 36(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act for the purpose of improving our website and will not be used or disclosed for any other purposes, except as authorized by law. Contact the Corporate Access and Privacy Officer by mail (City Clerk’s Department, Susan A. Thompson Building, 510 Main Street, Winnipeg MB, R3B 1B9) or by telephone (311) if you have any questions about the collection of this information.

Ces renseignements sont-ils utiles?

Comment pourrait-on améliorer cette page Web?

Les renseignements recueillis serviront à l’amélioration de notre site Web. Prière de ne pas se servir de ce formulaire pour soumettre une demande de service ou de renseignements, car la demande ne sera pas transmise au service en question. Pour soumettre une demande de service ou de renseignements, veuillez communiquer avec le 311.

Le présent formulaire ne vise pas à recueillir des renseignements personnels. Cependant, les renseignements personnels que vous choisissez d’inclure dans vos commentaires sont recueillis par la Ville de Winnipeg en conformité avec l’alinéa 36(1)b) de la Loi sur l’accès à l’information et la protection de la vie privée dans le but d’améliorer son site Web et ne seront ni utilisés ni divulgués pour d’autres raisons, sauf dans les cas où cela est autorisé par la loi. Communiquez avec l’agent de l’accès à l’information et de la protection de la vie privée de la Ville par courrier au Bureau du greffier, immeuble Susan-A.-Thompson, 510, rue Main, Winnipeg (Manitoba) R3B 1B9, ou par téléphone au 311 si vous avez des questions sur la collecte de ces renseignements.