Winnipeg police unit that targets repeat violent offenders averages an arrest per day

A Winnipeg Police Service shoulder badge is seen at a press conference in Winnipeg on Sept. 2, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/David Lipnowski

Dozens of violent criminals in Manitoba are being arrested, released, and then reoffending, only to be arrested again.

The Manitoba Integrated Violent Offender Apprehension Unit was established in 2023, and it targets and closely monitors high-risk criminals.

To date, the unit has made 730 arrests, which works out to about an average of one a day.

A report to the police board, where Mayor Scott Gillingham is a member, showed 85 per cent of those apprehended were on bail, parole, or probation.

“This to me is the most disturbing part of the entire report,” said Gillingham.

Police Chief Gene Bowers said those 700-plus arrests take a lot of effort and hours.

“There’s homicide suspects in there, you know, they don’t want to be found by the police, so there’s a lot of work in that 700,” said Bowers.

The numbers prompted the mayor to reiterate calls for tougher bail measures.

“We’ve got individuals who continue to perpetuate crime and cause terror in our city because they’re out on bail. Like, we want those people to get well, but they’re not getting well in my view, running around the city,” said Gillingham.

Bowers echoed the sentiment and said it might be time to consider bringing back minimum sentences.

“If you talk about minimum sentences, which are no longer for firearms and weapons, use of machetes, that might be something that should be looked at as well, because of the seriousness of those types of offences,” said Bowers.

In 2022, the then Trudeau government reversed mandatory minimums for some drug and firearm offences over concerns that Indigenous and Black offenders were more likely to be incarcerated for crimes under minimum sentencing laws.

Christopher Gamby from the Criminal Defence Lawyers Association of Manitoba said there are constitutional considerations as well, as a crime might not fit the punishment.

“The legal firearm owner who now finds themselves doing something illegal, possibly unwittingly or by mistake, could be vulnerable to a three-year mandatory minimum,” said Gamby.