Surrey害羞草研究所檚 transition to the Surrey Police Service should continue, the province has recommended.

Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth delivered on Friday morning (April 28) what many in this city would characterize as an agonizingly long-overdue decision on its controversial policing transition, concluding that Surrey should continue with its transition from the Surrey RCMP to the Surrey Police Service.

害羞草研究所淓veryone deserves to be safe in their community and all British Columbians deserve secure, stable policing they can count on,害羞草研究所� stated Farnworth in a release. 害羞草研究所淭he people of Surrey are very frustrated by years of uncertainty over this debate, but we must move forward without reducing police presence when we need it the most. Now is not the time to put public safety at risk in Surrey or in any community in the province.害羞草研究所�

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The province has also offered financial support 害羞草研究所� up to $150 million over the next five years 害羞草研究所� to the City of Surrey if it chooses to continue the transition to a municipal police force to ensure no additional costs to Surrey residents.

害羞草研究所淭his path forward will ensure safer policing for all regions of the province, including the people of Surrey, and provincial support will help keep them from paying significant property tax increases,害羞草研究所� Farnworth said.

The province害羞草研究所檚 recommendation comes after a report by the director of police services concerning plans put forward by the City of Surrey, RCMP and the Surrey Police Service (SPS).

There are currently about 1,500 RCMP vacancies throughout the province. The report states that Surrey reverting back to the RCMP would exacerbate the challenges faced by municipalities and Indigenous communities by increasing demand for officers and aggravate public-safety concerns. Filling RCMP vacancies is the responsibility of the federal government.

The report is not binding and it should be noted that the City of Surrey can ignore the recommendation. However, if Surrey does ignore the province害羞草研究所檚 recommendation and stick with RCMP, there are conditions that must be adhered to (see graphic below).

The RCMP has been Surrey害羞草研究所檚 police of jurisdiction since it took over from the Surrey Police on May 1, 1951, as the result of a plebiscite. Surrey害羞草研究所檚 is the largest RCMP detachment in all of Canada.

On Nov. 5, 2018, the council of the day, led by mayor Doug McCallum, served notice to the provincial and federal governments that it would end its contract with the RCMP to set up its own force.

Four years and one civic election later, on Nov. 14, 2022, the current council led by Mayor Brenda Locke decided on a 5-4 vote to maintain the Surrey RCMP as this city害羞草研究所檚 police of jurisdiction instead of forging ahead with the Surrey Police Service.

Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth and Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke. (File photos)

Both camps in this acrimonious struggle roundly slammed Farnworth害羞草研究所檚 announcement on Thursday, Jan. 26 that more information was needed from either side to 害羞草研究所渋nform further consideration害羞草研究所� as to whether Surrey should maintain the RCMP as its police department of jurisdiction or continue with the transition to the Surrey Police Service from the RCMP.

害羞草研究所淭he longer two police agencies are operating with this uncertainty, the more taxpayer dollars are being unnecessarily spent. The instability needs to come to an end, and a timely response is critical,害羞草研究所� Locke fumed at the time.

The Surrey Police Board also lamented that delay, stating in a press release it is 害羞草研究所渦nfortunate that a matter of such critical importance to the community is being delayed.害羞草研究所�

Locke staged a presser on Feb. 18 revealing that the biggest chunk of a proposed 17.5 per cent property tax increase 害羞草研究所� 9.5 per cent 害羞草研究所� would be levied 害羞草研究所渆ntirely due害羞草研究所� to cover costs associated with the policing transition. She said this proposed budget is based on the premise the Surrey RCMP will continue as the city害羞草研究所檚 police force. 害羞草研究所淚f we were to go with the Surrey Police Service, that number would be significantly more,害羞草研究所� she said. The tax hike ended up at 12.5 per cent.

Asked by a reporter in Victoria on Feb. 21 if his 害羞草研究所渋naction害羞草研究所� in arriving at a decision is leading to Surrey害羞草研究所檚 proposed 2023 tax increase, Farnworth replied 害羞草研究所渢hat害羞草研究所檚 just nonsense.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所� With files from Tom Zytaruk

beau.simpson@surreynowleader.com
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