5 things to know as B.C. orders Surrey to continue transition to municipal police force

The City of Surrey must continue with the transition to the Surrey Police Service since its plan to revert to the RCMP isn’t safe, B.C.’s public safety minister has ruled.

“It’s just not safe to go backward,” Minister Mike Farnworth said Wednesday.

“For the second time the city has failed to demonstrate moving back to the RCMP will be safe and not impact other communities across the province.”

Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke did not hold a press conference Wednesday but said in statement Farnworth’s decision is “disappointing, misguided and based on inaccurate assumptions. What has occurred today is the undermining of a local government duly elected by its residents.”

Locke said the province’s eight-month delay in coming to a final decision on Surrey policing cost the city $60 million, although she didn’t cite a breakdown for those costs.