Repeat offenders a major crime problem

The RCMP update to Kelowna council in March 15, 2020, stated that the Prolific Offender Monitoring Program monitors 39 prolific property crime-and-nuisance offenders.

This, in addition to additional programs, indicates the RCMP is being used for a babysitting service for prolific offenders at great cost of local taxpayers.

Kelowna hired seven new RCMP members in 2019 and reduced calls with the public online reporting system for non-emergency complaints.

As the courts pursue a merry-go-roundsystem of catch and release; police are tasked with providing increased social services including outreach crisis support; Restorative Justice for youth and first-time offenders; helping the homeless; participation in community events while babysitting prolific offenders.

Taxpayers need town councils to ensure that policing comes first; babysitting social work is the responsibility of the province.

Prolific offenders are a court responsibility.

Town councils need to demand responsive action from the provincial government and more accountability from the courts.

Individually, that is an overwhelming task, however it should be easy to get support from the other cities in the Okanagan.

With input from the RCMP, some solid proposals to the government on resolving crime in the Okanagan could be brought forth at the next Southern Interior Local Government Association meeting.

More mental health workers combined with law conferences to find solutions to alleviating crime in B.C.

Prolific crime responsibility should be squarely placed on the courts to resolve. If the courts set these people free, then they must bear the responsibility for the crimes they have allowed these prolific offenders commit on innocent citizens.

The province and the courts need to resolve this issue. The province needs to provide facilities to treat these people and the courts must remand them to these facilities.

It is not good enough for innocent citizens to pay the price because the courts and the province are failing to accept responsibility.

The 2021 SILGA conference is being held on April 28. Individual town councils provide presentations for adoption that can be presented at the annual UBCM conference.

Penticton RCMP this year will start giving community impact statements in addition to victim impact statements to the courts.

Prolific offenders and a lenient justice system is the most pressing issue of our time. I would suggest town councils get cracking.

Elvena Slump,

Penticton