A region of Ontario recently rocked by gun violence saw an “alarming increase” in firearms seizures this year, amounting to an all-time high in the region, police say.
Peel Regional Police (PRP) announced on Dec. 17 they had removed 53 illegal gun from the streets this year, which is more than double the number of illegal firearms seized the previous year, and more than triple compared to 2022.
Peel is a regional municipality in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), encompassing Brampton, Mississauga, and Caledon.
Peel police rolled out their Strategic and Tactical Enforcement Policing (STEP) initiative in 2007 as part of the specialized enforcement bureau with a focus on reducing gun and gang violence in the Peel Region. This year, STEP seized a total of 53 illegal firearms, 63 magazines, and 915 rounds of ammunition, according to a Peel police press release….