“I also fully support the recommendation to not allow a mayor to serve as chair of the police board”

THE City of Surrey has been working on putting in place its own city police service since it was approved by City Council in November 2018. A major factor for the switch was the desire to bring in local autonomy and accountability to policing in Surrey, said Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum on Friday.

He added: “The recommendations of the Special Committee on Reforming the Police Act are robust and comprehensive. It is interesting to note that the rationale to transition to a Provincial Police Service from the RCMP mirrors the reasons why Surrey has moved to switch to its own city police service. With the advent of the Surrey Police Service, governance, accountability, and decision-making are now made locally by a police board made up of community members.”

McCallum said: “I also fully support the recommendation to not allow a mayor to serve as chair of the police board. It was an issue I raised with the committee and I am glad that the Special Committee has included this as a recommendation in the report. On behalf of Surrey City Council, I would like to thank the members of the all-party committee and the province for their work.”