VPD chief blames increasing public safety challenges on lack of funds
Link News Desk
The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) has won its appeal to the B.C. government to receive $5.7 million in funding that was reduced in the city’s 2021 budget.
Approximately one year ago, the Vancouver Police Board submitted an appeal under Section 27 (3) of the British Columbia Police Act, after Vancouver city council voted in December 2020 to reduce the VPD’s net budget by $5.7 million.
The VPD appealed this vote. British Columbia’s Director of Police Services Policing and Security Branch Wayne Rideout issued his report this week regarding the VPD’s appeal of Vancouver City Council’s 2021 budget funding allocation decision regarding policing services. He urged Vancouver city council to restore the $5.7 million.
Vancouver’s Mayor Kennedy Stewart while clarifying City’s decision to cut VPD’s budget said, “Today’s report dates back to a decision made by Vancouver City Council during the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic when all departments were asked to do more with less.It is important to note that at no time did the Vancouver Police Department lack access to requested funds thanks to the City’s budget reserves.”
According to Kennedy the ever increasing policing budget accounting for more than 20 percent of the City’s spending. “The City of Vancouver spends over $1 million per day on policing, with a budget that has increased from $317 million in 2019 to $367 million in 2022 – accounting for more than 21 percent of City spending,” he said.
One the other hand justifying VPD’s budgetary needs,Adam Palmer, Chief Constable, VPD in a statement said, “The shortfall had a direct impact on the number of police officers the VPD was able to hire to meet the city’s complex policing needs.”
“The Province of British Columbia’s decision to restore $5.7 million to the Vancouver Police Department’s 2021 budget will ensure the VPD can better serve the residents and business owners of Vancouver, and improve public safety for everyone,”Palmer said.
He also added that since that time, Vancouver has been gripped by an abundance of public safety challenges, “including the ongoing Lower Mainland gang conflict, a surge in violent street crime, nearly 1,000 protests, concerning levels of hate crime, and a growing number of people who tell us they just don’t feel as safe as they used to.”
He said that VPD was committed to ensuring everyone feels safe again, andhad every confidence that a fully funded Vancouver Police Department can continue to combat the public safety challenges we face.
Palmer thanked Province of British Columbia, specifically the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General and the Director of Police Services, for their careful consideration in this matter. He also thanked city’s many residents, business owners, and visitors for their patience and encouragement throughout this process. Our success is driven by their continued trust and support.
Surrey Police Union too supported BC government’s decision. The Union wrote on its Twitter, “A City Council cannot direct the Province on policing. Decision today re(garding) VPD budget makes it clear that public safety #1. Vancouver Council reduced budget, province responded with absolute “no”. Transition is a done deal as province supports SPS. No new council can reverse it.”
