Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth has once again turned up the heat on Surrey council with a second letter as Mayor Brenda Lockesa国际传媒檚 Surrey Connect majority intends to retain the RCMP as the police of jurisdiction rather than continue transitioning to the Surrey Police Service.

Locke has not replied to requests for comment.

In a follow-up to his sa国际传媒� in which he pressed council to make a final decision, which Locke has argued is the citysa国际传媒檚 alone to make sa国际传媒� Farnworthsa国际传媒檚 second letter sent June 13 expresses concern that his ministrysa国际传媒檚 staff were told by city staff they will not be provided an advance copy of a corporate report before it comes before council for a critical vote on the future of policing in Surrey.

sa国际传媒淚t is troubling from a public safety perspective that Ministry officials are prevented an opportunity to provide advice regarding the suitability of the proposed plan to meet the mandatory and non-negotiable conditions,sa国际传媒� Farnworthsa国际传媒檚 second letter to council reads. sa国际传媒淚t is also contrary to the good faith that Ministry Officials and City staff have been operating in to ensure that all relevant information is presented to Council to make an informed decision.sa国际传媒�

sa国际传媒淭his information sharing is critical to ensure that the Corporate Report drafted by City staff for Councilsa国际传媒檚 consideration adequately addresses the mandatory conditions, requirements, financial implications including, full costing, and other relevant implications for each police model to ensure safe and effective policing in Surrey,sa国际传媒� Farnworth wrote. sa国际传媒淢inistry officials were informed that City staff have received direction to not provide a copy of the Corporate Report in advance of Councilsa国际传媒檚 further direction on this matter.sa国际传媒�

Farnworth warned that this could result in council voting on a plan that sa国际传媒渕ay notsa国际传媒� meet sa国际传媒渕andatory conditions and obligations placed on the City for either police modelsa国际传媒� and expressed concern that should Surrey council sa国际传媒渧ote on a plan that does not adequately address the mandatory and binding conditions on the transition, this already precarious situation could become further destabilized in an expedited timeline. This could create a policing crisis which puts into question safe and effective policing in the City of Surrey.sa国际传媒�

Council is set to consider a sa国际传媒淪pecial Council Agendasa国际传媒� this afternoon (Thursday, June 15), during a meeting that is closed to the public.

tom.zytaruk@surreynowleader.com
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