B.C. Premier David Eby announces new public safety plan

B.C. Premier David Eby has announced a new plan to address growing public safety concerns in the province.

The Safer Communities Action Plan (SCAP), Eby says, will lay out “concrete” steps at the provincial level to make communities safer through enforcement and intervention services.

Eby says a compassionate approach to mental health and addictions doesn’t mean people have to accept violent repeat offenders.

“Everyone deserves to feel safe in their community. We are making changes to bring key groups together to keep people and communities safe — ensuring those who commit violent acts face consequences, and creating as many opportunities as possible for them to address mental health and addiction issues to break the cycle of a life in and out of jail,” he said on Sunday.

Included in the new plan is an effort to address repeat violent offenders being let out on bail. Eby says there will be “coordinated response teams” consisting of police, dedicated prosecutors, and probation officers.

“Their mission is to prevent violent crime before it happens and when it does happen, to make sure that violent offenders wait for trial in custody and not in our community, putting people at risk,” the premier said.

Eby adds the province’s attorney general will be directed to have prosecutors lay out a “clear and understandable” approach to bail for repeat offenders, with a new policy set to take effect Tuesday. There will also be a push to get the federal government to address changes to the bail system.

The SCAP will also have new response efforts for mental health crises. Eby says that will include 12 new teams that will intervene in mental health incidents that will “free up” police to focus on crime.

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The plan will also see 10 new Indigenous justice centres created to provide free, culturally-relevant support for those in the criminal system.

“They will be operated by the BC First Nations Justice Council… and help people address the root causes of why they are in contact with the justice system, and break the cycle,” Eby said.

The province will be working with Vancouver Coastal Health and Providence Health Care to create a new model of addictions care at St. Paul’s Hospital. Eby says it will allow people to “seamlessly” transition between intake, treatment and detox programs.

The premier also laid out plans to introduce new legislation in the spring session that targets unexplained wealth and organized crime.

“Unexplained wealth orders are a tool to go at why organized crimes exists — to make money,” Eby said. “We will be seizing the assets and going after the proceeds that attract young people to organized crime and gang life — the flashy cars, homes and luxury goods — and we will remove the profit incentive from organized crime and send a message.”

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Eby also outlined plans to provide more support for those leaving the prison system and reduce cuts to sexual assault support services in the province.

“The core of this plan is coordination,” said the premier. “Coordination between justice system actors, non-profit organizations, cities, the provincial government, Indigenous people working together to create safer communities.”

Addressing public safety concerns and the cost of living crisis were among Eby’s top priorities laid out during his swearing-in on Friday. B.C.’s 37th premier has already announced efforts for the latter, with cost of living payments set to help British Columbians pay their bills.

With files from Hana Mae Nassar