Surrey Mayor Releases Task Force Report, Says Crackdown On Crime Working And Will Continue

SURREY – Surrey MayorDianne Watts released theMayor’s Task Force on crimereport and promised that shewould not rest until the job isdone. “I’m encouraged by whatmy Task Force has been able toachieve in such a short timeperiod,” says Mayor Watts. “Iwant to assure the people ofSurrey that continuing to confrontand disrupt criminalbehaviour is my number onepriority.”“I will continue to reach out andwork with anyone in the communitywho shares this goal. Wewill take any idea that will work,no matter where it comes from,”Mayor Watts continues. “TheMayor’s Task Force was struckon November 18, 2013 toaddress the issues relating to thecity’s homicides. Since that timeTask Force partners have beenactively disrupting criminalactivity in the city’s most highrisk locations.”But the B.C. Civil LibertiesAssociation is worried aboutsome provisions in SurreyCrime Task Force’s newweapons against crime.Michael Vonn with the BC CivilLiberties Association says use itbut don’t abuse it when it comesto Surrey’s plan to expand surveillancecameras, and havecameras at some intersectionsscanning licence plates, so policecan better track stolen cars.Vonn says we’ve seen issueswith Automated Licence PlateRecognition technology before.“As our Privacy Commissioner,the BC Privacy Commissionerhas discovered, all is not wellwith this program. No oneobjects to scanning licenceplates for stolen vehicles. But itturned out police were using thisdata for much more than that.Not only using it for much morethan that but SAVING it in casethey could use it for OTHERpurposes,” Vonn said.The Task Force’s “High RiskLocation” initiative is a partnershipbetween Surrey RCMP,Surrey Fire Services and SurreyBylaws. Together, they have createda seamless database andrapid deployment initiative tomore seamlessly address locationsthat pose the highest riskto public safety. Recognizingthat the vast majority of Surrey’shomicides stemmed fromlifestyles involving drugs andother criminal activity, the TaskForce has increased enforcementefforts at these high risklocations in the city where drugtrafficking and other crimeoccur. Since the creation of theMayor’s Task Force, and as ofFebruary 14, 2014, the followingresults have been realizedthrough the High Risk LocationInitiative:•175 arrests made•53 criminal charges recommended Over 340 high risk locationsinvestigated and/or inspected• 15 search warrants executed• 8 locations demolished orawaiting demolition• Inspected 144 unregulatedrecovery homes• Over $90,000 and 14 vehiclesseized as offence-related property• 122 street checks“We are targeting locations thatmirror those where homicides havehappened in the past,” says SurreyRCMP Officer in Charge Chief SuperintendentBill Fordy, who hasdedicated 49 specialized officers tothe initiative. “It is generally thesetypes of locations where those livinghigh risk lifestyles come togetherand create an increased risk topublic safety and potentially violentcrime.