B.C. Solicitor General Mike Farnworth speaks during a news conference in the press theatre at legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Friday, April 28, 2023. The British Columbia government is set to reveal its decision today on which force will police the City of Surrey, potentially ending a political tug of war over whether it will be the RCMP or an independent department. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
VICTORIA – The City of Surrey has been directed to move forward with an independent police service despite its determination to stay with the RCMP.
The British Columbia government says it made the decision to avoid a crisis in policing in Surrey, which would have taken Mounties from other areas of the province.
Solicitor General Mike Farnworth says in a statement that he has carefully considered the city’s report on moving back to the RCMP, but Surrey has not demonstrated that doing so would be safe or would not affect other communities.
Farnworth says he made the decision under the Police Act because the city failed to meet the requirements to stop an “exodus of Surrey Police Service officers,” or to staff a Surrey RCMP without pulling Mounties from other communities.
The RCMP is experiencing critical vacancy problems in B.C. and across Canada, and because of that, Farnworth says an independent force “is the only path forward to ensuring the safety of people in Surrey, as well as people across the province.”
Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke was elected on the promise to stop the move away from the RCMP and city council doubled down on the decision last month despite the province’s wishes along with a $150-million promise to help with the transition.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 19, 2023.
