Prince Rupert may be in the process of building a new detachment for the RCMP in the community, but if the Province of British Columbia acts on a report delivered Thursday, the Federal force may not be in place at the corner of McBride and Third Avenue East for long.
The BC Government introduced the findings of a Legislature Committee into policing on Thursday, the document a wide ranging review of policing in the province and one which came with ten recommendations for action by this government and those that may come in the future.
The initial focus for the review came out a lack of trust in policing by many areas of British Columbia society a theme noted in a statement on Thursday by Mike Farnworth, the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General
“The recommendations from the Special Committee on Reforming the Police Act echo our government’s belief that everyone deserves equal treatment by the police.
This has not always been the case for many Indigenous, Black and other people of colour. Public trust requires that the delivery of police services is fair, equitable and responsive to all British Columbians.
The committee’s recommendations to reform B.C.’s Police Act are based on extensive analysis and input and reflect today’s challenges, including addressing systemic racism, mental health, and harm reduction.
We will review the report’s findings on the roles and responsibilities of police, the effectiveness and efficiencies of policing practices, the level of public trust, and how to deliver exceptional services to all British Columbians while being understanding and responsive to the needs of Indigenous, Black and other racialized communities.
We have already begun reaching out to partners to discuss how we will review the report’s recommendations and, starting in late summer, we will be discussing the recommendations with Indigenous partners, community advocacy organizations, health and mental-health groups, police leadership, agencies and police oversight bodies in order to meet the new vision for the Police Act as envisioned by the committee."
However, of the ten key recommendations of the document, the one which has captured the most attention since the release was the call by the committee to bring back the British Columbia Provincial Police.
A law enforcement agency which had existed for over 90 years and last served the province up to the 1950's before it was dissolved on August 15, 1950, with the province then turning over the bulk of its law enforcement outside of selected cities to the RCMP.
It's been that model of contract policing that has been in place since and is what currently is in place in communities across the Northwest including Prince Rupert.
To the future of policing for communities like Prince Rupert and others the future as the committee views it would be better served by a return to a British Columbia Provincial Police model with an expanded focus on community safety and accountability.
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Among some of the elements of the document, the full report provides an overview towards addressing concerns of Indigenous communities, measures towards dealing with mental health and addictions and a proper funding model for communities when it comes to the financial burden of providing for policing services.
No timelines are established towards many of the elements, in particular the recommendation of a shift to the provincial police force option, so the discussion on that element and many others will be part of the Legislature debate for the months and more likely years to come.
So in short, don't anticipate a transition/eviction notice for the local RCMP detachment anytime soon, the prospect of change to a provincial force is one that will no doubt require much further discussion and exploration of a range of elements such as cost and disruption to communities.
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