Updates on the Surrey Police Service transition
Last updated on January 29, 2024The B.C. government is taking action to keep people safe through the Surrey police transition.
People's safety comes first. That's why the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General directed the City of Surrey to continue with the transition to the Surrey Police Service.
Although the City of Surrey has commenced litigation against the Province, the City is still legally required to complete its transition to the Surrey Police Service.
By not moving forward with the transition, the City of Surrey is costing people and businesses in Surrey money.
Background
Why the Province is involved
In 2018, the then elected mayor and council of Surrey decided to establish its own police department, the Surrey Police Service (SPS).
In February 2020, the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General approved Surrey's transition plan. The Surrey Police Board was established and has hired almost 400 officers and support staff.
As the SPS grew, the RCMP moved 160 officers to other communities. This means that today the City of Surrey has a blended police model with 25% SPS and 75% RCMP.
In November 2022, the newly elected mayor and council decided to cancel the transition. The Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General requested the City of Surrey and the RCMP to submit a transition reversal plan to assess how this change might affect public safety, not just in Surrey but throughout the Province.
The Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General determined the City's transition plan back to the RCMP was not safe. It would put public safety for people in Surrey at risk and have significant impacts for other B.C. communities. The Minister then directed the City to submit an updated plan that met specific conditions to ensure safety for the people of Surrey and throughout the province.
After reviewing all the information, the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General determined that the City of Surrey's plan supported by the RCMP failed to meet those conditions and these plans would negatively impact public safety in Surrey and have significant impacts for other B.C. communities. In order to keep people safe, the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General directed the City of Surrey to continue with the transition to the SPS.
If Surrey were to keep the RCMP, it would require RCMP officers from other B.C. communities – putting them at risk. Since the City of Surrey and the RCMP failed to meet the conditions to keep people safe, the Minister directed the City of Surrey to continue with the transition to the SPS.
In order to move this forward and ensure people's safety, the Province passed legislation in October 2023 that requires the City of Surrey to provide its policing with a municipal police department. This legislation means Surrey is obligated to complete with this transition to the SPS.
What is happening
The City of Surrey has money for the transition
Recent financial statements from the City of Surrey show it has money to move forward with the transition. The City has:
- Underspent its policing budget
- Set aside about $80 million for the transition
The Surrey Police Board has released its provisional 2024 budget, which shows that it fits within the City's existing financial framework. This means that the City doesn't need to increase taxes to pay for the transition to the SPS.
The Surrey Police Board has published its 2024 Provisional Budget.
Read the independent report on the Surrey Police Board's budget.
The City of Surrey is delaying the transition and is costing taxpayers money
During the transition, the City of Surrey is paying for 2 police services:
- Surrey RCMP
- Surrey Police Service (SPS)
The City will continue to pay for two police services until the transition is completed.
In its attempts to further delay the transition, the City is spending taxpayer money on consultants and lawyers to obstruct the transition.
In addition, the City of Surrey is spending $500,000 on a campaign against the transition and the SPS.
The Province has offered $150 million to support the transition
The City of Surrey's transition reversal plan identified a cost difference of about $30 million a year between the Surrey RCMP and the SPS.
The Province has offered to provide $150 million to help ensure additional costs are not passed to Surrey residents and businesses through high tax increases. The City of Surrey has not yet accepted this offer.
The Province continues to offer support and to work together with the City on this transition.
The Province has appointed an administrator for the Surrey Police Board
The Surrey Police Board has faced challenges and obstacles to its work to progress the transition. To facilitate the advancement of the transition, the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General has appointed an administrator for the board on November 16, 2023.
All members of the Surrey Police Board have been suspended during the administrator's appointment. They will have the opportunity to resume their roles when the administrator's appointment concludes. The appointment of the administrator was not a reflection of the skills, experience, dedication, or commitment of the Surrey Police Board members. They did exceptional work under very difficult circumstances.
The administrator is making progress in moving the transition forward, including the development, approval and submission of a 2024 Provisional Budget.
The Province has updated the Police Act
The complex and unprecedented police model transition in Surrey has shown that parts of the Police Act were not clear.
The Province has updated the Police Act to clarify the process that any municipality must follow if they want to change their police service.
These amendments to the Police Act are not just about the City of Surrey. They provide clarity to any municipality seeking approval to change its policing, and will help to ensure the continued safety of residents and businesses if a municipality were to undertake this process.
The updated Police Act also makes it clear that the City of Surrey must provide policing services through the Surrey Police Service.
Recent updates
November 16, 2023
October 16, 2023
The Province amends the Police Act to improve the process for changes of police of jurisdiction.
October 13, 2023
Minister Farnworth issues a statement on the City of Surrey’s decision to file for judicial review.
July 19, 2023
Minister Farnworth directs the City of Surrey to continue the transition to the Surrey Police Service.
April 28, 2023
Minister Farnworth recommends the City of Surrey continue with the transition to the Surrey Police Service.