B.C. says violent repeat offender scheme cuts police interactions by 50 per cent

The British Columbia government says its program targeting repeat, violent offenders has resulted in 50-per-cent fewer police interactions involving such offenders in the 18 months since it was launched.

Public Safety Minister Nina Krieger says in a release that there were 1,500 fewer police interactions involving violent repeat offenders after the program was introduced in May 2023.

Krieger says the drop in violent-offence interactions was even bigger, at 56 per cent, in the same period, representing 480 fewer interactions.

The province says the legal system has increased its effectiveness dealing with violent repeat offenders, with them spending more time in custody and Crown counsel seeking detention more frequently at 84 per cent versus the previous 67 per cent.

It has also resulted in a higher remand rate of 75 per cent for such offenders, up from 56 per cent.

The program has tracked more than 500 offenders with more "intense supervision and support," including enhanced case management, monitoring and surveillance.

The province says the program's success has now led to a similar pilot in Kelowna, Nanaimo and Nelson targeting property crimes and public disorder.

"The impact is far-reaching for people's safety in their neighbourhoods and downtown cores, with violent offenders being better monitored and kept off our streets for longer," Krieger says of the violent repeat offenders program.

Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns