B.C. creates enforcement teams in 12 communities to tackle repeat violent offenders

Teams of police, prosecutors and probation officers are being enlisted to tackle repeat violent offenders in a dozen British Columbia communities.

Premier David Eby says the government will create 12 law enforcement hubs in communities across the province including Kelowna and Kamloops from Nanaimo to Terrace dedicated to enforcement and investigation.

He says the new regional hubs are part of the government’s Repeat Violent Offending Intervention Initiative and will help prosecutors, police and corrections officials focus on specific prolific repeat offenders to keep communities safe.

“This will deliver serious consequences for those who repeatedly break the law, while also making sure targeted services are available to those who are ready for them,” Eby told a news conference in Nanaimo.

The Opposition BC Liberals have been calling on the government to introduce tougher public safety measures, citing numerous violent crimes allegedly connected to people who were arrested and released, only to be involved in other violence shortly afterwards.

Eby says the government will support the hub initiative with $16 million over three years, and introduce a special investigation and targeted enforcement program to help police conduct repeat offender investigations.

Other communities involved in the program are Nanaimo, Victoria, Vancouver, Surrey, New Westminster, Abbotsford, Cranbrook, Prince George, Williams Lake and Terrace.

“The impacts and challenges of repeat violent offenders requires a multi-agency response,” Dwayne McDonald, deputy commissioner, commanding officer of the B.C. RCMP, said.
“The new Specialized Investigation and Targeted Enforcement program is a step in the right direction. SITE will enhance public safety by adding to the investigative options available to police in B.C. It will also strengthen co-ordination and information sharing between police agencies, similar to the successes achieved with B.C.’s Provincial Tactical Enforcement Priority, which SITE is modelled after.”

The Canadian Press