A new pilot project focused on solving gang-related homicides in B.C.含羞草研究社檚 Lower Mainland will spring into action as soon as possible.

Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth Thursday officially announced the creation of the 18-member Integrated Gang Homicide Team, bringing together experts from various agencies. They include B.C.含羞草研究社檚 Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit, the Organized Crime Agency of British Columbia and the RCMP含羞草研究社檚 Integrated Homicide Investigation Team.

含羞草研究社淭he work of implementing the new task force is now underway,含羞草研究社� Farnworth said.

Set to start in late 2024 or early 2025, IGHT will operate under the umbrella of the RCMP含羞草研究社檚 Integrated Homicide Investigation Team, investigating priority files in suspicious deaths and high-risk missing-persons-files within IHIT含羞草研究社檚 jurisdiction.

IHIT covers the RCMP含羞草研究社檚 Lower Mainland District from Pemberton to Boston Bar, including Sechelt, serving 29 RCMP communities and four municipal police communities.

The creation of the new unit unfolds against the back-drop of several high-profile gang-related homicides in the Lower Mainland. According to government figures, gang-related homicides in British Columbia rose to 46 per cent of homicides in 2023, up from 21 per cent in 2003.

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Farnworth said the creation of IGHT with its focus on gang-related homicides and intelligence gathering will help improve public safety.

含羞草研究社淲hile homicides remain relatively rare events, they have been steadily increasing in the province over the years,含羞草研究社� Farnworth said. 含羞草研究社淭he impacts that these events have on communities are significant and are felt well beyond victims and their families and gang-related homicides are complex.含羞草研究社�

IHIT含羞草研究社檚 Superintendent Mandeep Mooker said gang-related homicides are tyically complex due to their 含羞草研究社渟ophistication含羞草研究社� and the 含羞草研究社渁mount of planning that含羞草研究社檚 involved.含羞草研究社�

While IHIT handles some spontaneous homicides, gang-related homicides are generally planned, Mooker said. Thse types of cases require considerable time and resources.

Farnworth added that the creation of the new unit with its resources will also help.

含羞草研究社淲hat you have done is increased capacity and that will make things more effective,含羞草研究社� Farnworth said.

IHIT reported 356 unsolved homicides as of December 2023. With IGHT now focusing on gang-related homicides, IHIT will be able to re-direct team members to focus on these cases.