Surrey mayor says 150 more police officers needed to face extortion crimes

The mayor of Surrey says the city needs 150 additional police officers to tackle extortion crimes affecting the South Asian community and businesses.

“It is gut-wrenching to see our community impacted so profoundly. Our city cannot, and will not, endure it any longer,” said Mayor Brenda Locke in a statement Friday.

Locke visited Victoria yesterday to meet with Public Safety Minister Nina Krieger.

“The scope and scale of this challenge require leaders in the federal and provincial governments to take action and help end the violence that no Canadian city should have to endure.”

The mayor says she also wrote to federal Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree, requesting both levels of government contribute to the request to implement 150 new officers.

“Particularly those specializing in organized crime, financial crime, and firearms interdiction, to lead a coordinated police response until the violence is brought under control.”

She also reportedly urged the federal Justice and Immigration ministries to alter the Criminal Code to strengthen provisions against organized crime.

Locke’s requests went out the same day two men were arrested in connection with the latest incident that saw a home shot up in Surrey early Thursday morning.

At last count earlier this month, the Surrey Police Service was investigating 65 extortion cases in the city this year — with dozens of them involving gunfire.

In September, Locke announced that the city had set aside a $250,000 reward fund for information leading to convictions.

Anyone with information about extortion-related cases is asked to call the Surrey Extortion Tip Line at 236-485-5149. The line is monitored by SPS officers seven days a week between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Punjab-speaking officers are also available, if needed.