Two 10 person teams will be added to the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit to support police in communities, including Williams Lake, dealing head-on with violent criminals.
The announcement comes today from the provincial government in part of adding another $23 million dollars over three years to BC’s Guns and Gangs Strategy for a dozen new and expanded initiatives.
Premier Christy Clark says the recent spike in gang and gun related violence is a problem that is not confined.
“Criminals move all over the province and one of the things that we know is when we undertake more enforcement in Surrey, which is what we’re going to do, some of them will leave and go start their criminal activity somewhere else.”
Clark says the funding will bolster public safety in Williams Lake and other communities though a three pillar approach which includes focusing on supporting effective enforcement and prosecution.
“We are also expanding the access to electronic monitoring. Now the decision about whether or not electronic monitoring for people who get out on bail for example is applied ultimately relies on a judge but we are encouraging our prosecutors and police to access that more often and as you know we’ve changed it so now it’s GPS based.”
Also included in the three pillar approach is furthering community safety and public engagement, and expanding laws and sanctions targeting illegal guns and gang violence, profits, and property.
“Ultimately how that money is deployed will be in the hands of the Deputy Commissioner who is the expert in fighting crime in British Columbia. We know-I know and I trust that he will make the right decisions to address this gang problem we’re seeing unfold on our streets, and has made British Columbians feel so unsafe and insecure,” Clark says.