An initiative monitoring suspected street gang members entering Northern Ontario First Nations is receiving provincial cash.
Nishnawbe Aski Police Service (NAPS) is getting $6,047 for Project Vision to help access and install CCTV systems. The money is part of Ontario's CCTV Grant program to help deter criminal activity and improve public safety.
For Project Vision, NAPS is monitoring suspected street gang members from Southern Ontario engaging in "illicit activities, including human trafficking, drug dealing and contraband" in northern First Nation communities, according to the provincial announcement.
"Specifically, Wahgoshig First Nation has seen an increase in gang-related occurrence and intelligence has revealed an influx of potential street gang members travelling to Wahgoshig for the purpose of trafficking," reads the news release.
"Intel will be gathered from the video streams and analyzed for patterns and trends as well as identifying persons of interest and potential."
Wahgoshig First Nation is in the Matheson area.
The information will help NAPS' Guns and Gang investigations, as well as other partners such as OPP and the Timmins Police Service.
In October, Timmins Police boosted its CCTV offerings by installing five new cameras downtown Timmins and in Porcupine.
The Ontario CCTV Grant program launched in August 2020. The funding covers 50 per cent of the project costs up to a maximum of $200,000.
