BC Establishes Special Homicide Unit to Combat Gang Involvement in 46 Percent of Murders

British Columbia is establishing a specialized team to investigate gang-related homicides, as these murders now account for nearly 50% of all killings in the province.

According to data from the Ministry of Public Safety, gang-related homicides have increased from 21% of total killings in 2003 to 46% last year.

Mike Farnworth, B.C.’s public safety minister and solicitor general, announced the formation of the new Integrated Gang Homicide Team, which will be responsible for probing gang-connected murders.

The team, comprised of 18 members, is expected to be fully operational by late this year or early 2025.

While members of the gang homicide unit will be integrated into the Lower Mainland’s RCMP-led Integrated Homicide Investigation Team, their primary focus will be on gang-related cases.

Superintendent Mandeep Mooker, the officer in charge of the homicide team, highlighted that gang-related homicides are often more complex to investigate due to gang planning, witness reluctance, and evidence tampering.

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“As of December 2023, IHIT reported 356 unsolved homicides,” the government stated in a news release.

“The establishment of the new Integrated Gang Homicide Team will enhance investigative capacities, allowing IHIT to allocate team members to address these cases.”