Surrey taxpayers ‘biggest losers’ in policing saga: expert

As we await a definitive end to the longstanding debate over the future of policing in Surrey, one expert says the people who are losing the most at this point are the city’s taxpayers.

Monday brought another week and another war of words in the ongoing police transition.

But as time passes, University of the Fraser Valley political scientist Hamish Telford says the bill keeps getting bigger for people who live in the city.

“The biggest losers here are the taxpayers of Surrey, who are on the hook for this one way or another,” Telford told CityNews. “It’s already costing something like $8 million additional, per month, to run two police services. And, as I say, there have been sunk costs in the tune of $100 million already.” 

Telford’s comments come as the province reviews the city’s report, outlining its choice to stick with the Surrey RCMP. That was a decision Mayor Brenda Locke announced publicly after an in-camera vote last week, though the final say will lie with B.C. Public Safety Minister and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth.

“This has been a very, very expensive experiment, shall we say, in municipal policing and it’s taxpayers that are on the hook for it. I’m not sure that, at this point in time, any politician is coming away a winner here either,” Telford said.

Surrey police transition: Implications

The police transition has been a controversial topic for some time now, after it was first put in motion by former Mayor Doug McCallum.

But Telford says Surrey is likely “in the final stretch of this story.”

“Presumably, the minister’s next decision will be the last decision, and Surrey will either revert back to the RCMP as city council wants to do, or the province will require them to go with a municipal force, which was their preference to begin with,” he told CityNews.

Telford’s analysis also comes just one day after Locke levelled more criticism at Farnworth, saying, “I absolutely think there is misogyny going on,” hours after the minister told the city he would be “forced to make a determination” if he didn’t get Surrey’s report by 1 p.m. that day.

The consequences, if any, of this whole saga will depend partly on what solution Farnworth comes forward with, Telford adds.

“If he accepts the city’s desire to go back to the RCMP, one presumes that he can start mending political fences with the mayor and city council, and the provincial government more broadly can start to do that,” Telford explained.

“If, on the other hand, he overrules their preference and forces them to go with a municipal force, then the tensions that we’ve seen between the mayor and the minister and the provincial government are going to be deepened. It’s going to be long lasting and it’s going to be a very difficult working relationship.”

‘There don’t appear to be any winners here at all’: political scientist

Beyond the politics, the political scientist says no matter what decision is made, the province won’t be able to keep everyone happy.

However, he admits it’s hard to say just how the politics — provincially — will be affected by Farnworth’s call.

“I think there’s more likely to be a story if we go the other way and if he accepts the city’s desire to go back to the RCMP because then the city has to figure out how they’re going to pay off the Surrey Police Service and break all the other contracts associated with establishing a new police force,” Telford explained.

Related articles: 

• ‘He has been a bully’: Locke responds to Farnworth’s Surrey policing report deadline

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

• Despite RCMP vote, Surrey Police Service says ‘it’s not over’

The city’s decision came weeks after the province provided an independent recommendation that the SPS transition continue, citing staffing challenges with the RCMP. The province also offered financial assistance to the tune of $150 million to offset the transition cost — something the city won’t get if it sticks with the RCMP.

“Even if Brenda Locke ultimately prevails and gets the RCMP, it’s going to cost the city a ton of money. And if, on the other hand, the provincial government gets its preference of a city police force, then the provincial government’s got to pony up money for that. So there don’t appear to be any winners here at all,” Telford said.

“I think everybody is feeling a lot of pressure and very stressed. I don’t sense that there’s any ill will here by any of the major players and getting into name calling does not help the situation or come to an easy resolution.”