Police Investigations into Extortion Cases Surge in Lower Mainland
The number of police investigations into extortion-related cases has seen a significant increase throughout the Lower Mainland this year. Notably, in Surrey, there have been no extortion charges laid in 2025.
This rise in investigations has sparked calls from the B.C. Conservatives to dismantle what they describe as the province’s “highest-in-Canada” charge-approval threshold. They advocate for allowing police to directly press charges in extortion cases to address what they perceive as a failing justice system led by Premier David Eby.
In Surrey alone, confirmed shootings have spiked by 89% this year, with 27 incidents directly linked to 39 extortion attempts. Conservative Leader John Rustard, along with MLAs Elenore Sturko and Steve Kooner, is urging the formation of a specialized task force comprising law enforcement and Crown Counsel to expedite extortion cases and streamline the prosecution process.
However, criminal lawyer Brock Martland cautions against shifting charge-approval powers, arguing that it could potentially overwhelm the courts and leave victims disillusioned when cases collapse.
In British Columbia, the police are not empowered to initiate criminal charges independently. Instead, Crown Counsel assesses whether charges should proceed based on a “substantial likelihood of conviction” criterion, which is more stringent compared to the standard used in other provinces.
Martland asserts that this approach, upheld by various public inquiries since the 1990s, serves to prevent unjust prosecutions and reduce courtroom congestion. He warns that lowering the charge approval threshold could result in increased delays and the dismissal of serious cases on grounds of unreasonable delay, ultimately allowing guilty individuals to evade justice.
Rather than advocating for a change in legislation, Martland suggests enhancing funding and staffing for Crown Counsel, a proposal supported by the Conservatives as well. This move aims to expedite the review of extortion cases and enhance cooperation between prosecutors and law enforcement in handling complex gang-related matters.
The focus, Martland emphasizes, should be on achieving convictions rather than simply increasing the number of cases processed through the legal system. The province has yet to announce any potential modifications to its charge-approval protocol.