From streets to classrooms, anti-gang unit focuses on Surrey’s youth

As Surrey continues to struggle with violence on the streets, the RCMP are hoping the answer is with the younger generations.

As part of their early intervention programs for the city’s youth, Surrey’s Gang Enforcement Team has also stepped in to help.

The anti-gang unit attended a local secondary school dressed as civilians.

Officers spent time playing sports, talking to students, and even helped out with a hip-hop clinic put on by one of the teachers. Even though students knew they were police officers, they didn’t know they were part of Surrey’s anti-gang unit.

At the end of the week officers arrived in full uniform and surprised the students.

“The kids were totally floored,” said Sergeant Michael Sanchez, who helped organize the initiative, in a release. “They knew we were police officers but had no idea we were part of a team that specifically targets individuals whose lifestyles some of them looked up to and idolized. As expected, many of them were surprised that we weren’t trying to preach to them and that you could have fun and talk to us without any negative implications.”

“In the past we’ve been making efforts to meet with teenagers, especially with older teenagers but we’re now focusing even more on the younger kids in the early teens,” said Surrey RCMP Cpl. Scotty Schumann.

They hope positive interactions in low-stress situations can help officers communicate and build rapport with younger people.

“Our hope is when you build a positive relationship early in a person’s life that that carries on to the way they behave and conduct themselves as they get older.”

Schumann says the response from the school district they partner with has been very positive.

“They think it’s an excellent idea and they are certainly trying to facilitate the meetings with the youth for us.”

Surrey RCMP has different preventative youth programs together with this, such as the Wrap program, Code Blue, and Youth Police Academy.

“Police have always been trying to engage the community but we focus more now on youth, because we believe that it will pay dividends in the future,” added Schumann.