Quotable: After All … It’s Working Soooo Well

UPDATED 17/08/11 – COMMENTS RECEIVED – With the gangland killing of Jonathon Bacon in Kelowna over the weekend it is refreshing to hear the minister responsible for spending all the money on the issue tell us how well it’s working.

Arresting and charging hundreds of people and spending millions of dollars has had such an positive impact on the gang problem in BC … hasn’t it?

What a moment to pick to make such a ludicrous statement.

Shirley Bond

“Over 200 organized crime and gang members and associates have been arrested and charged with more than 400 serious offences since we brought in the gangs and guns strategy in February 2009.”
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“Since 2008-2009 our government invested B.C.’s full $53.3 million share of the Police Officer Recruitment Fund for additional policing positions dedicated to combating gun, gang and organized crime. I can assure you, the province is committed to the continuing funding of these dedicated resources.” – Public Safety Minister Shirley Bond

One Comment

1. 

   William of Ireland

   August 17, 2011 at 5:21 am

   The comments by the Solicitor General illustrates how the effectiveness of the police has rapidly deteriorated in BC, and demonstrates the astonishing lack of oversight and transparency that allowed such reckless expenditure of taxpayer money to continue.

   Shirley Bond suggests that “Over 200 organized crime and gang members and associates have been arrested and charged with more than 400 serious offences since we brought in the gangs and guns strategy in February 2009.” However in reality, there are close to 200 gangs in the province, thousands of members, thousands of crimes, and the province’s “efforts” equate to a drop of water in an Olympic size swimming pool.

   Why do police not have a handle on gangs in BC? After more than a decade of gang activity including increases in their numbers, hundreds of murders, countless resources thrown at the problem, why do we continue to reward police, not for their success, but rather their failures?

   Check out my column on Gangs: http://www.abbotsfordtoday.ca/?p=61957

   Reply