No Solutions From Mayor Watts On Gang Homicide Epidemic In Surrey

SURREY — Surrey MayorDianne Watts and her task forceto address this year’s recordnumber of homicides is meetingWednesday afternoon, butso far she’s mum on solutions,reported Surrey Now.“We’re developing the strategyright now,” she said, brieflystepping out of the discussion.The task force’s initial meetingwas last week. Watts said they’retalking about “problem residences,”high calls for policeservice, “vulnerable” groups inthe city, and police resourcesand delivery.She said she’ll be making areport public within two weeks.Watts announced in November,within hours of Surrey setting anew record of 22 homicides sofar this year, that she’ll set up atask force to “drill down” onwhat’s causing these high spikesin the city’s homicide rate everyseveral years. That record hassince jumped to 23.The previous record number ofhomicides was 21, in 2005. The previous record number ofhomicides was 21, in 2005.The mayor, RCMP brass, acriminologist, crime analysts,and representatives from theschool district and the city’sbylaw department are on thetask force.”We need to drill down and seewhat’s going on,” Watts said inNovember. “I will be striking atask force with the SurreyRCMP on drug and gang activityand the contributing factorsof homicide.”She said this task force will trackdrug houses, review the city’sclosed circuit video surveillanceprogram, look into what rolemental health might play in theissue, and review how the city isbeing policed. “We will identifystrategies to prevent peoplefrom engaging in a gang anddrug lifestyle and to disrupt thisactivity in our community,”Watts said.Courtesy Surrey Now