The much-awaited decision by the provincial government on future of policing in Surrey should have put the long running debate to rest. But it looks like people of Surrey will have to wait more before they know their police of jurisdiction. After rejecting BC’s Public Safety Minister’s recommendation, Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke has now directed the staff to further review the report prepared by the province on policing transition in Surrey.
These continued delays are costing taxpayers tens of millions of dollars and risking public safety.
The Province, last week, after reviewing reports from the RCMP, City and the Surrey Police service, strongly recommended that the City should continue with the policing transition to Surrey Police Service. Surrey’s Mayor Brenda Locke, however, rejected the province’s recommendation and said she wanted to retain the Mounties’ services. She said this immediately after Public Safety minister Mike Farnworth announced his decision.
“We have a choice, and we pick the RCMP,” said Locke in a news conference where she heavily criticized Public Safety Minister and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth, calling his report into the province’s recommendation “disingenuous” and “half-baked.”
In particular, Locke took issue with the fact that the report was heavily redacted.
“We’re open to sitting at the table if there is anything at the table, but I’m not going to be handed a redacted report … and make a decision,” she said.
BC Premier David Eby however stepped in and said that he expected his government and Surrey’s mayor and council to work together to resolve the police service issue.
Eby said he’s spoken twice with Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke since the government recommended the city proceed with its transition to the Surrey Police Service rather than return to the RCMP.
“One of the key features of my conversation with the mayor, certainly it was her opinion and it’s mine as well, that we need to get closure on this as quickly as possible,” he said at the legislature.
Eby said his government is now in the process of setting up a briefing with Surrey’s mayor and council in order to provide as much information as it can, as well as “an opportunity to review the full, unredacted report so that they have all the information they need for their deliberations.”
After that, the premier and the public safety minister will be made available to sit down with the city to figure out a path forward.
Surrey Mayor during Monday night’s Regular Council Meeting, “On Friday April 28th, the City received the Minister’s Report regarding Policing in Surrey. I have directed staff to conduct a thorough analysis of that report including all aspects of the Minister’s Recommendations. While the review process will understandably take some time, staff are working through it as efficiently as possible. Subsequently, the report will be brought back to Council in the near future for its careful consideration. In the meantime, we will continue with the important work of the City. As always, the public safety of the citizens of Surrey is first and foremost for every one of us on Council. I will not be making any further statements until such time as that report is provided to us.”
Although, Mayor is borrowing time by sending the province’s report for another review, the systematic report prepared by the director of police services has already detailed how the transition to SPS can be safely undertaken. The report also details concerns about the RCMP’s current retention and recruitment challenges and outlines potential implications on the RCMP police presence in other regions of the province if the transition is reversed.
Surrey Police Service Chief Constable Norm Lipinski said, that the province made a considered, comprehensive, and evidence-based recommendation that the transition to Surrey Police Service (SPS) move forward.
“This is a rare opportunity to build a police service that is rooted in the principles, values and realities of today’s world, and a chance to redefine policing for Surrey. This policing transition is not about simply changing the colour of the uniform – it is about bringing a new era of policing to Surrey. Across Canada, citizens have made it clear that they want to see policing done differently – with more compassion and trauma-informed practice, and less reliance on use of force. At SPS we are seeking to go beyond the status quo of policing as we find new approaches and solutions to public safety,” he said.
Surrey Councillor Mandeep Nagra is calling on Mayor Brenda Locke and city council to accept the Province’s recommendation to continue with the Surrey Police Service (SPS) transition.
Nagra believes that the Province’s commitment to supporting the SPS transition, by providing approximately $30M per year in funding, presents a unique opportunity to lower property taxes and provide much-needed relief for Surrey residents who are struggling to make ends meet amid a looming recession and skyrocketing inflation.
