Highlights of the Year
There were many significant achievements throughout the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General during fiscal year 2005/06. Some of these achievements are highlighted below.
Supporting Communities in Increasing Public Safety
- A dedicated R.C.M.P. team is in place to investigate the disappearances and murders of young women on the 724-kilometre section of Highway 16 between Prince George and Prince Rupert, known as the "Highway of Tears." The ministry also supported a "Highway of Tears" community symposium organized by the Lheidli T'enneh Nation, bringing together First Nation groups, community organizations, provincial government ministers and R.C.M.P. to meet with family members of victims and to develop recommendations for increasing safety along Highway 16.
- The Office of the Fire Commissioner (O.F.C.) undertook reorganization designed to streamline operations and enhance efficiency and service delivery. While the delivery of front-line fire services is a local government responsibility, the province recognizes that in specific areas of fire investigation, inspection, training and public education, the O.F.C. provides critical support. The reorganization was designed to strengthen that support.
- More than $137 million in government gaming grants was distributed to over 6,000 community organizations that provide important programs and services to British Columbians.
- The ministry continues to support communities in developing crime prevention strategies to prevent youth crime and violence and the sexual exploitation of children and youth.
Enhancing Road and Commuter Safety
- We enhanced road safety across the province by establishing integrated road safety units, expanding the bait car program, and launching a dedicated traffic helicopter to provide aerial support to 17 communities in the Lower Mainland. The helicopter assists police in spotting and tracking dangerous drivers, and reduces the chance of high speed chases that put the public at risk.
- Two new programs were launched aimed at getting impaired drivers off B.C.'s roads. Drunk drivers now have to complete a mandatory rehabilitation program and install an ignition interlock system on their vehicles, both of which are proven and effective ways of keeping drinking drivers off the road.
- The new Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority Police Service (G.V.T.A.P.S.) was established to address public safety along the SkyTrain corridor. The G.V.T.A.P.S. is comprised of 75 designated police constables who have the same powers and authorities as the municipal police to enforce drug laws, execute outstanding warrants and arrest individuals who commit crimes outside a SkyTrain station.
Combating Addiction and Drug-Related Crime
- We directly addressed the growing problem of crystal methamphetamine (meth) addiction by taking steps to monitor and control the ingredients used in making the drug, and launched a multi-million dollar, fully integrated meth strategy under the ministry's Crystal Meth Secretariat. We supported this $7 million dollar initiative with a series of community forums in key communities across the province.
- The innovative drug treatment court program in Vancouver was extended for another three years. Drug treatment courts are an intensive, court-monitored alternative to jail. Participants follow a structured program of treatment and community service support to reduce their dependence on illegal drugs. By helping non-violent offenders overcome their addictions and improve their social stability, the program reduces the criminal behaviour associated with substance abuse, while helping reduce other court backlogs. The federal and provincial governments share the annual $1.5 million costs of the program.
- The new B.C. Centre for Social Responsibility opened at the University College of the Fraser Valley. This provincial resource centre develops training and educational opportunities, evaluates programs, services and strategies, and conducts research in the area of social responsibility. This is a government partnership led by the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General and involves the Ministries of Children and Family Development, Health and Community Services. The initiative partners and supports government ministries, provincial and community organizations, law enforcement, academics and education partners, local health authorities and the public.
Fighting Organized Crime and Gang Violence
- R.C.M.P. and municipal police officers and members of the Organized Crime Agency teamed up to form the country's first provincewide organized crime unit. The Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (C.F.S.E.U.) is an integrated team of police officers and other government agencies with a mandate to expose, investigate, prosecute and dismantle organized crime. This collaborative approach to fighting organized crime allows for the sharing of intelligence and enforcement resources across jurisdictions.
- The ministry is helping to tackle the difficult problem of gang violence and crime, and recently committed an additional $10 million per year to B.C.'s Integrated Gang Task Force program.
- We also put in place a law to ensure that criminals, including gang members, do not profit from their illegal activities. The Civil Forfeiture Act allows the province to apply through civil law to restrain and have forfeited assets acquired through unlawful activity. Money recovered is paid into a special account and used to compensate crime victims, fund crime prevention programs, and pay for the costs of administering the act.
Fighting Cybercrime and Internet Child Exploitation
- The ministry committed additional resources to two integrated R.C.M.P. units created to respond to the rapidly changing nature of crime. The Integrated Technological Crime Unit (I.T.C.U.) was established in 2002 to investigate computer crimes, such as unauthorized access to computer systems, and to investigate the misuse of digital data and identity theft. The I.T.C.U. also provides support to other investigations, such as drug trafficking, money laundering and credit card fraud, which often involve computers and electronic organizers. The Integrated Internet Child Exploitation Team (I.I.C.E.) was formed in 2003 to investigate individuals involved in Internet child pornography and the luring of children on the Internet. The I.I.C.E. team also plays a proactive role promoting public awareness about luring and Internet child exploitation.
Supporting Victims of Crime
- The ministry remains committed to providing financial assistance and benefits to victims and others affected by violent crime to offset the financial costs and facilitate recovery from the physical and emotional impacts of crime. In 2005/06, the Crime Victim Assistance Program provided over $10 million in benefits to victims of crime, their immediate family members and eligible witnesses.
- The ministry continues to provide funding for over 150 Victim Service programs across the province. These programs provide emotional support, information, referrals and practical assistance to victims of crime, their families and communities.
Responding to Emergencies and Disasters
- We supported B.C.'s 45-member Heavy Urban Search and Rescue Team (H.U.S.A.R.), which spent five days in St. Bernard Parish in Louisiana, helping victims of hurricane Katrina. The first trained rescue squad to reach the area, the H.U.S.A.R. team rescued 117 people and provided medical assistance to another 125.
- The disaster funding assistance limit was raised from $100,000 to $300,000 to better help eligible homeowners, residential tenants, farms, small businesses and charitable organizations when property is damaged by uninsurable disasters, such as certain kinds of floods and mudslides.
Promoting Responsible Liquor and Gaming Practices
- We continued to improve liquor regulation by targeting enforcement resources on high-risk establishments and on the public safety issues of service to minors, over-service, overcrowding and illicit alcohol. The Liquor Control and Licensing Branch continues to improve the tools it uses to identify high-risk establishments in consultation with local governments, police, schools and licensees.
- We implemented the Responsible Gambling Strategy in order to reduce the incidence of problem gambling and address the harmful impacts for those experiencing gambling problems.
- We also implemented the Illegal Gambling Enforcement Strategy in order to reduce the incidence of illegal gambling and ensure the integrity of legal gambling. A key element of the strategy is a joint operations team involving investigators from the Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch and the R.C.M.P.
Demonstrating Leadership and Innovation
- The R.C.M.P. and academics at Simon Fraser University and the University College of Fraser Valley signed a three-party information-sharing agreement to team up to share the latest research on how best to combat crime. This is the first agreement of its kind in Canada. Using computer technology and expert analysis, criminologists at both campuses will research the root causes of crime, crime "hot spots" and repeat offenders. They will also work with their counterparts around the world, and will provide police with information about crime reduction techniques in other jurisdictions to help identify new strategies for B.C. At the same time, the R.C.M.P. will provide researchers with their own police data to further their research.
- The diligence of the B.C. Coroners Service was recognized in the examination of the child death review process conducted by Ted Hughes, Q.C., and government invested an additional $1 million to address ongoing child death review responsibilities.
- The management team of the Fraser Regional Corrections Centre in Maple Ridge received the Premier's Award in innovation and excellence in B.C. public service programs. As a result of restructuring, the centre became the only male sentenced facility in the Lower Mainland. This meant overhauling operations to admit sentenced inmates classified to open, medium and secure custody and to also accommodate a population increase of 130. The centre's management team successfully transformed operations to meet the demand, including transforming staffing and labour relations, improving correctional practice and program delivery, maximizing use of facility space, and enhancing relationships with local communities.
- We have taken steps to involve First Nations in establishing policing priorities, goals and objectives for their communities. In February 2006, First Nations communities participated in a conference held in Kelowna to examine how First Nations may play a more effective role in governing their policing services. From this conference, a First Nations Steering Committee was established to improve First Nations police governance structures and processes on reserves.
