OPP GETS $3.4 MILLION FOR BIKER WAR

LONDON, Ont. (Special) - The province is pouring $3.4 million into the
Ontario Provincial Police's anti-biker squad, says Solicitor-General Jim
Flaherty.

"We have to stop the expansion of new biker gangs in Ontario. We aim to
stop them cold," Flaherty said yesterday in announcing the initiative.

The cash will boost the squad from seven to 20 members and bring resources
from 16 other Ontario police forces into the fold. It will sharpen OPP
efforts such as Project Dismantle, which since mid-1995 has resulted in
almost 1,200 charges against gang members and the seizure of 84 weapons and
some $600,000 in assets.

The Conservative government also promised in last week's budget annual
funding of $2.7 million for the squad.

The OPP will quickly arm itself with new technology for the fight, said
Chief Superintendent Doug Scott.

He said police will target all outlaw motorcycle gangs, including those who
defiantly wore their club colours in a massive funeral procession through
downtown London after two local Outlaws members were gunned down a month
ago.

The incident is a clear example of how renegade bikers can bring contract
murder, drug-dealing, prostitution and other forms of criminal violence to
any neighbourhood, said London police Chief Julian Fantino.