BC RCMP Facing Cuts Of $4.2M

Written by Peter McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM Wednesday, 20 August 2014 17:11
RCMP in BC have confirmed media reports about funding cuts. Deputy Commissioner Craig Callens says they are facing a 4.2 million dollar reduction to their provincial budget the next year. He says 2.8 million dollars will be chopped from the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit which targets organized crime, and 1.4 million less --13 investigators-- for the Major Crime program which looks into unsolved homicides and missing person cases. "We remain committed to delivering quality police services to British Columbians. However, policing costs money and we have less to work with. There will be fewer police officers available in these specialized areas tomorrow than there were yesterday," says Callens. NDP Safety critic Mike Farnworth calls the Liberal cuts reckless saying they will hinder police in gang enforcement, and leave more murders and missing persons cases unsolved. "The Liberal government claims to be concerned about gang violence and missing persons, but the truth is they are trying to walk away from both issues by removing funding," says Farnworth.