The provincial government has introduced amendments to the Police Act (Bill 36) that will impact the policing transition process, and broader municipal authority for providing policing and law enforcement services in communities over 5,000 in population. Additional amendments relate specifically to policing in the City of Surrey.
UBCM’s policy position is that local governments have the autonomy to provide for policing and law enforcement within their boundaries. UBCM maintains a simultaneous focus on ensuring that any actions taken by one local government do not negatively impact or burden the broader UBCM membership.
Proposed changes include:
- Municipalities over 5,000 in population must seek provincial approval prior to implementing a new or different policing service.
- Under certain circumstances, this would authorize the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General to require a municipality over 5,000 in population to provide a specific form of policing.
- New requirements for all affected municipalities to provide information (e.g., plans, records) to the Minister for the purpose of deciding whether to approve or reject a municipality’s request for policing.
- Requiring any decision made by the Minister for the provision of policing within a municipality to be fully implemented, and if necessary, carried out under the directions set by the Director of Police Services. For example, if a council received the Minister’s approval for a new form of policing, any new council would still be required to complete the transition process.
- New provisions that give the Director of Police Services the authority to superintend the implementation of a municipality’s approved policing plan (e.g., transition process, establishment of a new policing model).
Additional changes seek to ensure that the City of Surrey transitions to a municipal police department (Surrey Police Service). This includes the authority for the Province to cancel the RCMP Municipal Police Unit Agreement it holds with the City of Surrey.