B.C. will be ‘forced’ to make Surrey policing decision if city doesn’t provide report: minister

British Columbia’s minister of public safety, Mike Farnworth, is issuing the City of Surrey an ultimatum Monday, as he waits to receive the latest report regarding policing in the city from council.

Farnworth says if the city does not provide the report to the province by 1 p.m., he will be “forced to make a determination about what is necessary for safe and effective policing without it.”

In a statement, the minister repeats what he has said multiple times over the last weeks, saying that as the province’s solicitor general, he needs to review the city’s plan to keep the RCMP as the police of jurisdiction, to “ensure it meets the requirements for safe and effective policing. I have been very clear about this.”

“I became concerned on Wednesday when I learned city staff were preparing to present a report to city council about future policing in Surrey that had not been shared with the Province. Unfortunately, I also learned that city staff were directed to not provide it to my ministry officials. I asked the mayor to share the report and wait to hold a vote until we could agree on what was safest for people in Surrey, based on the requirements for adequate and effective policing.

“Instead, on Thursday, the city council voted on the report before the province had seen it and before I had the chance to determine if it will ensure safe and effective policing,” Farnworth said.

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The minister goes on to say that since Thursday, the city has been delaying providing the province with the report. “First, it was promised by noon Friday, then by end of day Friday. My staff requested the report throughout the weekend. We have still received nothing. It is critical that I receive this report. Now is not the time to play games. The safety of people in Surrey is too important.”

Farnworth’s comments come in the latest installment of the policing saga in the city.

On Friday, the city announced the results of its Thursday vote. City councillors held the closed-door meeting Thursday, but all kept quiet after the meeting wrapped up.

Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke says the decision was “informed,” adding councillors have reviewed the provincial report on the transition — which ultimately recommended the city continue to move to the Surrey Police Service (SPS).

Locke said Friday that “the impacts of continuing with the transition are incredibly significant and had to be considered.”

Almost immediately after the announcement, Coun. Linda Annis described the vote as an “insult to the people of Surrey.”

“This one was done behind closed doors. … I think it’s an insult to our residents of Surrey. They’re paying the bill, they have every right to know what’s going on. And they have every right to hear council debate the issue.”

In April, the provincial government recommended the city move ahead with the SPS and was promising $150 million to help with the transition. Part of that decision came down to it being a safety issue, as there are currently 1,500 RCMP vacancies in the province.

“When someone calls 911, they need to know that a police officer will be there in time to help. Now is not the time to put policing levels at risk in any community. In Surrey, or anywhere else in B.C. The people of Surrey have been through enough,” Farnworth said at the time.

CityNews has reached out to the City of Surrey for comment.