The Surrey policing transition will continue for at least another year, as the provincial government reportedly asked the RCMP to extend its stay in the city.
In a letter to Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Garry Begg, Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke says provincial staff have “requested Canada to extend the duration of the RCMP’s presence in Surrey for a third year, for the purpose of providing temporary transitional assistance.”
The letter, dated June 19, was included in a Wednesday meeting agenda for the Surrey Police Board. In it, Locke also expresses her disappointment that the issue is being revisited.
She’s concerned the city wasn’t involved in any consultation over the extension request.
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Locke was a vocal opponent of the transition to the Surrey Police Service, but she says as long as both agencies are operating in the city, taxpayers have to cover the cost.
“We know that the longer this takes, the more it’s going to cost, and we’re concerned about that, but we are also concerned that the city is not involved in those discussions about the extension,” she told 1130 NewsRadio.
Locke says she hasn’t heard anything from Begg’s office on that nor on multiple requests to the ministry for Surrey-related updates.
The Surrey Police Service officially took over as the force of jurisdiction in the city last November.
1130 NewsRadio has reached out to the province for comment.
