Victoria: Public Safety Minister and Solicitor General of BC Mike Farnworth on Friday made recommendations to continue with transition to Surrey Police Service.
Addressing mediapersons, he said safety concerns are top of mind in the government’s recommendation that Surrey continue with its transition towards a local police force.
Farnworth says there are 1500 staff vacancies within the RCMP in the province, and if Surrey reverts back to the Mounties that will make the staffing situation worse for other local communities that depend on the force for its policing.
The province says the decision is not binding, but it has placed several mandatory conditions on the city if it decides to retain the Mounties.
Farnworth says the government will offer financial assistance for the transition to the municipal police force, which could be up to $30 million a year over five years. — with inputs from The Canadian Press.