SURREY Mayor Brenda Locke on Tuesday fired back at Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth after he issued a statement accusing her of failing to act “in the best interest of the people of Surrey” in connection with the policing transition.

Locke in a statement said: “This dispute is about the City’s ability to choose its policing model. The City’s voters have chosen the RCMP and City Council has accordingly resolved to maintain the RCMP as its municipal police force

“As is customary in litigation, the parties engaged in Without Prejudice discussions. The City respects the confidentiality of that process. It does not agree with the representations in the Minister’s statement. It is the City’s position that the Province provided no firm financial commitment that would provide redress to Surrey taxpayers for the full cost of transitioning to a police force they did not vote for.

“Despite being more than five years into the transition, the Province refuses to agree to a number of reasonable commitments that are clearly their responsibility to ensure a safe, efficient and economical policing transition.”

She cited some examples:

• The Province’s failure to develop a plan or model for the new police force, a transition plan, or a completion date for the transition;
• The Provincial Government’s refusal to commit to a completion date for the transition, ending Surrey taxpayers’ burden of paying for two separate police departments; and
• The Province’s refusal to commit to sufficiently funding the Justice Institute of B.C., to ensure there are enough police officers to staff a new police force.

Locke said: “Due to the Province’s failure to address these crucial commitments, accepting the offer would be to the detriment of our residents and overall public safety in Surrey. As I’ve said all along, I will stand up for the best interests of our taxpayers. It’s important that the public have all the details, and hear the truth, and I’m glad all will be revealed as court proceedings begin on April 29.”