Police don’t like to talk about Red Deer’s gang problem.

They fear talking about it will give some sort of notoriety to gang members.

But by not talking about an issue, we downplay it.

For awhile now, some members of the public have been saying there are indeed gangs in Red Deer and there is reason to fear or be concerned.

City RCMP are loosening up and talking about the problem a bit, more so after this week’s release of a report on quality of life in Red Deer that indicated gang activity as a top concern.

The Red Deer and District Community Foundation Vital Signs 2008 report — which involved an online survey of residents —states that there are 350 to 400 youth ages 11 to 24 involved in gang activity in Red Deer. That’s enough young people to fill an entire school.

Red Deer’s gang problem, I believe, actually consists of two segments.

One is, of course, the known organized crime gang activity that goes on wherever there are drugs and other types of criminal behaviour such as prostitution, in most cities. The work that goes into monitoring organized crime is largely untold, undercover, until such time as big busts are made.

Generally the public does not directly encounter these so-called big players as they go about their business surreptitiously, trying to draw as little attention to themselves as possible.

The second segment of gang activity is not usually very well organized. These are mainly the neighbourhood punks who tend to commit low level crimes and intimidate people. They can be quite visible and living among them can be hellish.

The smart novice gang members will see the error of their ways, the danger in them, and ask for help to get out. Others, not so smart, have a bleak future.

We know the awfulness of gangster life because we see and hear about it happening in the Hobbema area where First Nations communities struggle almost daily with the social consequences of gang-involved youth going down in flames. Such a waste. Such a loss.

There has to be concern that gang activity in Red Deer could end up exploding into the problem it is in Hobbema. Early intervention may be the key.

“The majority of youth involved in gang activity in Red Deer are 12 to 15 years old, and 30 per cent are female,” according to Vital Signs. RCMP estimate that about 80 of these youth are involved in serious crimes involving violence and weapons.

It only takes a few to terrorize a neighbourhood.

Late this summer, the Advocate reported on people in a north Red Deer trailer park living in fear because of a roaming gang of 15 to 20 children and young teens.

What precisely police are doing about this type of gang activity in Red Deer is unclear. But part of the problem that police would have is that some are too young to charge and others who do get charged are hardly punished. Others may have parents who don’t care or who are unable to intervene for various reasons.

A youth gang committee was formed last December in Red Deer. RCMP and the City of Red Deer, among others, are on the committee.

The concern expressed in the Vital Signs survey about gangs may a bit of an awakening for the entire community.

City RCMP Supt. Brian Simpson says he’s not surprised about the concern about gangs.

“The smaller percentage are hard core and the other are fringe players, but nonetheless still an issue. I don’t take it lightly by any means.”

I say forget about the hard core, they’ll find their way behind bars soon enough. Let’s focus on the fringe players to see if in fact they can be turned toward something positive.

If we turn away from this issue and leave it to get worse, we will regret it.

City community facilitator George MacLeod says that the youth gang committee is investigating preventive measures for at-risk youth. The concerns expressed about gangs through the Vital Signs report should urge them on.

A public forum on gangs in Red Deer would be a good way to start a community dialogue on an issue that we should not be afraid to acknowledge.

The sooner the better.

Mary-Ann Barr is Advocate assistant city editor. Her column appears on Tuesdays and Saturdays. She can be reached by e-mail at barr@reddeeradvocate.com or by phone at 403-314-4332.