It's been six months since private security patrols ended in downtown Vernon, and so far, the new system seems to be working. The city decided not to fund the BC Commissionaires last fall, and instead had police and city bylaw officers perform some of those duties. Earl Hansen from the Downtown Vernon Association says their members have no major complaints, but the situation could change. "We're at a time of the year where there does start to be some increase in certain types of criminal activity that seems to be seasonally-driven with more people making an appearance in the Okanagan." However, Hansen says their members are generally pleased with security in the downtown since the Commissionaires were phased out. "We're observing. We're watching. We're kind of paying attention to what's going on, but we're still very comfortable letting the responsibility fall on the RCMP and the city bylaw officers." DVA members had footed the $8,000 a month bill for private security patrols over ten months starting in late 2006 and ending last August. Meantime, the DVA holds it's AGM on Thursday with Tourism Minister Stan Hagen as the guest speaker.
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