B.C. government letter accuses Surrey of ‘lack of engagement’ in police transition talks

The B.C. government is accusing the City of Surrey of dragging its feet when it comes to talks surrounding its transition from the RCMP to a municipal police force.

The accusations are made in a letter obtained by CityNews dated Oct. 4 sent to Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke and signed by Glen Lewis, B.C.’s Director of Police Services.

“I am writing to you today to express my concerns regarding what I observe to be a lack of engagement and action from the City of Surrey staff on its police model transition following Minister Farnworth’s July 19, 2023 decision,” the letter reads.

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Lewis writes that a “significant amount of work” has taken place since Farnworth’s decision, saying Surrey has not kept up its end of the deal.

“I am increasingly concerned about delays and the impact to progressing the transition, it is my observation that this lack of progress and delay is due in large part to a lack of leadership and engagement by City Council and City staff,” the letter says.

“In my view, City staff have been only minimally engaged in select aspects of this work to date and are seemingly constrained by a lack of direction from the Mayor and Council to progress the transition to Surrey Police Service.”

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The letter outlines seven examples in which Lewis says the city has not held up its end in certain aspects of the transition and shared incorrect information with the province. It also cites recent council meetings where the topic was not discussed at all.

“I strongly urge that the City rectify these matters forthwith and assume the leadership required to carry out its transition,” Lewis writes, demanding a report back on solutions to the issues outlined by Oct. 13.

In a statement to CityNews, B.C. Public Safety Minister and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth highlighted that there are daily talks between various levels of government, and the police agencies involved, standing by Lewis’ letter.

“My director of police services has a statutory responsibility to ensure that policing services are delivered in the way that they’re supposed to be. The letter sent to Mayor Locke outlines a number of issues where the city has made inaccurate and false statements,” Farnworth stated.

“My decision is done and my decision is final. It’s time for the city to recognize that decision, stop the delays, and continue working with the province, the federal government, and the RCMP on the transition to the SPS.”

The Surrey Police Service declined to comment on the matter.

Locke refutes allegations in letter

Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke says she was unaware that the letter had been sent until CityNews requested an interview with her to speak about it.

She says any delays in the transition process are not just the city’s fault.

“It’s ironic that the province is asking for us to get this report done on the transition when they haven’t provided us with a budget, with a plan, with a path forward for us to work on,” she told CityNews on Thursday.

“It’s also interesting that the minister took just about eight months to make his decision and he wants us to do a report back in a week.”

Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke. (CityNews Image)

Locke says the city is doing its due diligence on the matter, and says it’s “unfair” that she’s being pressured to act quickly.

“I know that people would like this to be a simple solution and just get the city to move on. There’s nothing that we can do,” she said.

Related Video: A full timeline of the Surrey policing saga as of July

The mayor adds that Lewis has not contacted her directly about the concerns outlined in his letter.

“Maybe Mr. Lewis can pick up the phone and give me a call,” she said.