Surrey Councilor Linda Annis is putting public safety at the forefront of her mayoral campaign less than a year before the upcoming municipal elections.
During a recent public gathering, Annis pledged to strengthen the Surrey Police Service (SPS) by increasing the number of police officers if she wins the mayoral race.
She aims to hire an additional 300 police officers over the span of four years. Annis emphasized, “I plan to expand the Surrey Police Service by recruiting 300 new officers within the next four years, equating to 75 officers annually over that period.”
Despite recognizing the financial implications of such a recruitment drive, she stressed its importance due to Surrey’s projected population growth, surpassing Vancouver in the coming years. “Looking forward, Surrey is on track to outgrow Vancouver and will soon accommodate over 1 million residents,” Annis pointed out.
Annis believes that her proposal will enhance community safety, especially in response to the rising incidents of extortion and intimidation in Surrey.
She highlighted that public safety has emerged as the city’s primary concern. “The estimated cost would be around $13 million per year. While policing comes with a hefty price tag, ensuring public safety is paramount,” Annis emphasized.
Additionally, Annis underscored the necessity for more police personnel as the transition from the RCMP to SPS nears completion, following what she described as prolonged political delays.
As of November, the SPS is actively investigating over 100 extortion cases, with 44 involving instances of gunfire.
The upcoming British Columbia municipal elections are scheduled for October 17, 2026.