Surrey violence sparks call for police change

New municipal political party says it’s time to replace the Mounties with a local force

Ditch the Mounties and spring for a local police force in Surrey, says a new municipal political party fed up with the enduring gang violence that has plagued the city.

Doug Elford, president of Surrey Community Alliance and a city council hopeful, said it’s time to see a heavy “boots-on-the-ground” style of policing that would make criminals think twice about operating in Surrey. That’s one of several ideas on policing that have been aired by prospective candidates ahead of an election in which crime could be a key issue.

“Maybe it’s come to the point where you’ve got to start harassing people and say, look, if you want to be a criminal and live in Surrey, you’re not welcome,” Elford said.

Elford’s comments come after a recent rally at city hall against gang violence and a candlelight vigil for a pair of Surrey teens gunned down in a targeted shooting on June 4.

Elford said every jurisdiction is different, and for an urban municipality like Surrey the RCMP may not be a good fit. Mounties did not respond to a request for comment.

Elford said police should be more visible than they are now, pulling people over for traffic violations when they happen, and making connections with residents so they get to know members of their local force.

Elford is from Newton, an area that has seen several high profile and disturbing murders in recent years. The Surrey Community Alliance was in part created in response to the ongoing violence residents were seeing, Elford said, adding that the governing party, Surrey First, “hasn’t seemed to have a proper grip on what’s going on.”

Tom Gill, a Surrey councillor with Surrey First and a mayoral hopeful, noted that Surrey hired an additional 100 officers under outgoing mayor Linda Hepner.

“The solution is not just hiring officers,” Gill said. “The solution is a combination of a number of issues, including providing youth with opportunities, whether they’re ice rinks, aquatic opportunities, rec centres. It’s about keeping these kids busy.”

Bruce Hayne, a Surrey councillor with Surrey First who is also considering a mayoral run, previously told Postmedia the city needed to work with the Canada Border Services Agency and port authorities to try to tighten up the import of handguns that end up on the streets.

Surrey-Newton Liberal MP Sukh Dhaliwal said gang violence is an issue that requires the entire community and each level of government to get involved.

Asked by email if he’d like to see an increase in officers on the streets, Dhaliwal said the federal government is “always ready to listen to the needs of the community, and we look forward to a dialogue with the City of Surrey and Surrey RCMP on what they need to effectively keep our city safe.”

He said he planned to meet with the public safety minister this week on the topic of violence in Surrey.