Pubdate: Fri, 15 Apr 2016
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2016 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact:  http://www.theprovince.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: Jennifer Saltman
Page: 4

NO QUICK FIX TO SURREY'S ISSUES: RCMP

More programs needed to help direct youths away from gang activity,
official says

Prevention and intervention - in addition to enforcement - are key to
solving Surrey's problems with drugs and gun violence, according to
assistant commissioner Bill Fordy.

"We will arrest the people involved in these issues, but in the long
term we will not arrest our way out of this issue," Fordy, the officer
in charge of Surrey RCMP, said during a Surrey Board of Trade lunch on
Thursday. "I believe we will educate our way out of this issue."

So far this year, there have been 32 shootings in the city related to
a dial-a-dope turf war between two unnamed, low-level groups. It's
similar to the turf war that played out on Surrey streets last year,
however the groups involved are different.

"The individuals involved in the drug trade may change, but the
problem remains the same," Fordy said. "Young people are being lured
into the lifestyle with illusions of money and power, but the reality
is much, much different."

Fordy said they're driven by greed and the issue goes beyond the
police and involves the entire community, parents, extended family and
friends, schools, business owners and prevention programs.

Surrey RCMP are working with the school district and the city to come
up with more early intervention programs - such as the Wrap Project,
Code Blue and Youth Intervention Program - for young people so they
can avoid getting into a criminal lifestyle in the first place, and
Fordy said police are more engaged and visible in schools than ever.

"We must try to find ways to achieve long-term success," he
said.

On the enforcement side, it was announced last week that Surrey will
get 75 new street cameras (and access to another 330 traffic cameras),
as well as policing resources from around the Lower Mainland.

Fordy assured attendees that the drug turf war and shootings are the
police department's top priority. He said that in spite of the large
number of shootings that have happened so far, he believes the police
are in a much better place strategically than they were last year.

"Careless violence on our streets is clearly unacceptable and we are
tackling it aggressively and strategically," Fordy said. "I can tell
you we stopped the violence last year and we will stop it this year."

During his speech, Fordy also touched on the importance of community
engagement, the public's perception of crime, the proliferation of
cyber crime, how police are working with Syrian refugees and the
Surrey RCMP's service delivery model.

"I want you to know I believe we have a very, very skilled police
force. I'm very proud of the men and women that I work with. They're
very proud to work here, and they're very proud to serve you," he said.
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MAP posted-by: Matt