By Link News Network
SURREY: The people of Surrey will have to wait further before any decision on policing transition is made. BC public safety minister Mike Farnworth was expected to deliver the final decision on who will be policing Surrey — the RCMP or the Surrey Police Service.
However, Minister Farnworth stated on Thursday, January 26, that “the director of police services has determined that additional information is required to inform further consideration of the matter and has made a request to the parties for that information.”
He did not give details on what additional information is required. But explained that the policing transition in Surrey is “unprecedented and complex and requires a full and in-depth analysis.” The province will wait for the requested information. “We will await their timely responses and look forward to continued collaboration.”
While Minister Farnworth acknowledged that municipalities are responsible for local policing and law enforcement, he said it’s his responsibility to ensure adequate and effective policing is maintained in Surrey, the region and throughout British Columbia, so that people are kept safe.
The residents of Surrey have been kept in limbo ever since the tussle over policing in Surrey started. The City of Surrey led by former Mayor Doug McCallum voted in 2018 to have its own police force giving birth to Surrey Police Service. However, a movement to maintain the RCMP in Surrey started gaining momentum during the time of municipal elections. Mayor Brenda Locke made it her election platform to keep the Surrey RCMP as the police of jurisdiction in the city.
After the municipal elections in 2022, the new council led by new mayor Brenda Locke decided on a 5-4 vote to maintain the Surrey RCMP as this city’s police of jurisdiction. The decision on policing transition become more complex since SPS had already recruited police officers, who left their jobs and moved from all over the province in Surrey to serve in the city’s police force. The matter went to Victoria. Minister Farnworth asked the City, the RCMP and SPS to submit detailed reports at the end of December 22, about their finances and how they will maintain public safety in the city.
A decision from the Minister was expected around this time. However, that decision has now been put on hold since Minister Farnworth has asked for additional information.
Minister Farnworth’s announcement evoked disappointment across the city. Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke said that the inability to make a timely decision is unfair to SPS and RCMP officers and their families.
“It also impacts the City’s ability to complete our budget for 2023. The 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.”
“The City and the RCMP completed comprehensive plans on the steps forward to maintain the RCMP. We have clearly and thoroughly provided all the necessary details to demonstrate our ability to maintain the Surrey RCMP and can do so in a more cost-effective and timely way than continuing with SPS. The RCMP has served Surrey well for 70 years and crime has been trending downward over the past decade.”
Mayor Locke seemed to push the province to decide in favour of the RCMP, as she said that the city has already made the decision to maintain the RCMP and the “Province needs to do the right thing and confirm the City has the right to this decision.”
The Surrey Police Service stated that they have been fully transparent and timely in reporting to the provincial government.
“It is unfortunate that a matter of such critical importance to the community is being delayed, but we appreciate the work of the province in trying to move this process forward as quickly as possible, recognizing a final decision will have implications not only for Surrey but also the entire province.”
Surrey Board of Trade CEO Anita Huberman too expressed her disappointment with Minister Farnworth’s statement. “The request for more information does not clarify what information was missing in the original submissions provided by the City of Surrey, the Surrey RCMP and the Surrey Police Service. This signals a further lack of transparency to the public and business community. Further, no timeline was given to the public on when a decision will be made,” she said.
Surrey BC Liberals MLAs felt this policing issue has created deep divisions within the community and any further delays will serve “to increase costs, as well as fuel rumours.”
“How can community leaders make any plans? How can Surrey RCMP and new Surrey Police officers feel secure about their future? How can residents have a sense of reassurance and confidence amid the chaos and uncertainty this government continues to prolong with these delays?” Elenore Sturko asked.
