The B.C. government today announced it is creating hubs of police, dedicated prosecutors and probation officers focused on tackling repeat violent offending in every region of the province, including Cranbrook.

Twelve hubs are part of the Repeat Violent Offending Intervention Initiative, which is focused on targeted enforcement as well as enhanced investigation and monitoring. Hubs will be located in four regions of British Columbia: the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, the Interior and northern B.C.

In the Interior region, hubs will be based in Cranbrook, Kamloops, Kelowna and Williams Lake.

The initiative is structured to meet the unique needs of each community. The hubs will work with local stakeholders and other existing programs, such as situation tables and Assertive Community Treatment teams, through collaborative information sharing.

“Everyone deserves to feel safe in their community, wherever they live,” said Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. “The rise in repeat violent offending is top of mind for British Columbians and it’s also a top priority for our government. We’re taking action by standing up 12 hubs throughout B.C. to harness the expertise and experience that will disrupt repeat violent offending and make a real difference in B.C. neighbourhoods.”

The hubs will be based in Cranbrook, Nanaimo, Victoria, Vancouver, Surrey, New Westminster, Abbotsford, Kamloops, Kelowna, Prince George, Williams Lake and Terrace.

Each hub will serve surrounding communities within its region, co-ordinating responses across the justice system and connecting offenders with the services they need to support better outcomes.

“Crimes committed by repeat violent offenders continue to be a concern across the country,” said Niki Sharma, Attorney General and former Sparwood resident. “These are tough challenges that require a co-ordinated approach. That’s why we’re investing in dedicated Crown counsel to provide criminal law advice, and independent prosecutorial support and services to support the hubs and help build safer, more just communities.”

The Repeat Violent Offending Intervention Initiative will be supported by the new Special Investigation and Targeted Enforcement (SITE) program.

The province is investing $16 million over three years so law enforcement can strengthen targeted investigations of repeat violent offending cases and improve information sharing between police agencies.

“The impacts and challenges of repeat violent offenders requires a multi-agency response,” said Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald, commanding officer of the B.C. RCMP, Surrey.

“The new Specialized Investigation and Targeted Enforcement program is a step in the right direction. SITE will enhance public safety by adding to the investigative options available to police in B.C. It will also strengthen co-ordination and information sharing between police agencies, similar to the successes achieved with BC’s Provincial Tactical Enforcement Priority, which SITE is modelled after.”

SITE will expand police investigative resources and targeted enforcement capacity and allow police agencies to enhance co-ordination and share information quicker. This funding will make enforcement more effective, improving information gathered for prosecutors and boost police capacity for collaboration.

The Repeat Violent Offending Intervention Initiative and SITE will advance the Safer Communities Action Plan’s goals of strengthening enforcement to hold individuals accountable, and leveraging services to create safe, healthy communities for everyone, a Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General and Ministry of Attorney General media release stated.

The Safer Communities Action Plan aligns with recommendations from several community safety reports, including the Special Committee on Reforming the Police Act and the BC First Nations Justice Strategy.

“People need to feel safe in their communities, and this investment will give us new tools to bring people together to address issues in communities across B.C. We’re tackling public safety concerns from all angles, and this is a big step forward in our work to build happy and healthy communities,” said Nelson-Creston MLA Brittny Anderson.

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