Vancouver- B.C. Solicitor General and Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth on Tuesday made an important announcement regarding the transition of police force in Surrey.
In his announcement, Farnworth said Surrey Police Service will become the police of jurisdiction on November 29, at which time it will be responsible for policing and law enforcement on behalf of the City of Surrey.
“The B.C. RCMP, as the provincial police service, will remain active in Surrey, providing support to the SPS until the transition is completed, with both agencies working together under a temporary operational co-operation and assistance arrangement,” Farnworth said.
“The people of Surrey have told us they want this to be over. We agree, and we’re taking action to ensure safety and certainty for people in Surrey,” he added.
In his statement, Mike Farnworth said “People’s safety – in Surrey and across the province – is non-negotiable, and today I am setting the target date for the SPS becoming police of jurisdiction in Surrey, the next step toward completing this transition, which the city is required by law to do.”
The province said the date was identified after careful consideration of public safety, the progress completed to date and the significant work underway to finalize the transition. “This includes identifying and operationalizing transitional supports to be provided by the B.C. RCMP, approving the SPS’s hiring plan and other steps necessary to ensure the SPS will meet the practical and statutory requirements to become Surrey’s police of jurisdiction,” the province said.
“Surrey Police Service has been preparing for the change of police of jurisdiction date for over three years, and we continue to work diligently to ensure SPS is prepared to transition into this role on Nov. 29, 2024,” said Norm Lipinski, chief constable of the Surrey Police Service. “We are excited to be building an outstanding municipal police service that is tailor made for Surrey, and we are honoured to serve the residents and business owners of Surrey.”
The province said in the coming weeks, Farnworth will issue a notice to the City of Surrey terminating the Municipal Police Unit Agreement.