Listen Live

New funding announced to beef up specialized units and rural police forces

The B.C. government will be spending $230 million over the next three years to help rural police forces and specialized units to have enough officers.

“Everyone deserves to feel safe, and my government is working on every front to protect our communities and make them stronger,” said premier David Eby in a release.

“As part of our Safer Communities Action Plan, we will help ensure that the RCMP can operate to its full capability to keep people safe. The actions today will help stabilize policing and provide our provincial police force with the staff resources they need to address public safety concerns head on.”

Money will go towards filling vacancies in rural police detachments in communities of less than 5,000 people, allowing provincially funded regional RCMP units to reach their fully authorized staffing levels of 2,602 officers and beefing up special units.

The specialized units include the major crimes section, the sexual exploitation of children unit, and the BC Highway Patrol.

Provincial officials said this will improve public safety by increasing the overall capacity of homicide and missing persons investigations.

Continue Reading

- Advertisement -

Related Articles

- Advertisement -

Latest News

BCGEU deal must be ‘fair to taxpayers,’ says Premier David Eby

Premier David Eby said British Columbia is facing “fiscal headwinds” that will impact what deal the province can make with striking public service workers. 

Temporary foreign worker program should be “cancelled or significantly reformed,” says B.C. premier

Premier David Eby said it’s time for the federal government to reassess Canada’s temporary foreign worker program.

Out-of-control wildfire shuts down section of Coquihalla highway

Highway 5 between Hope and Merritt remains closed due to an out-of-control wildfire. 

Heavy smoke expected across B.C. as wildfire season rages on

British Columbia wildfire officials say late-season heat waves and heavy smoke are signalling a longer and more challenging wildfire season extending into the fall.

No critical injuries after incident with B.C. Wildfire Service helicopter

Officials said there were no critical injuries after a B.C. Wildfire Service helicopter made a “forced landing” near Pemberton late Wednesday morning. 
- Advertisement -