The BC provincial government has approved Surrey’s plan to establish a municipal police force.

Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth and Surrey Mayor

Doug McCallum released a statement this morning, announcing that a “joint project team has been struck.”

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The joint transition committee will be chaired by the Hon. Wally Oppal and will “work expeditiously to provide advice to the Director of Police Services through to the Solicitor General relating to the establishment of Surrey’s municipal police department.”

In June, the City of Surrey released a transitional plan, detailing the move from the RCMP to a municipal police force.

The motion to create a city-based police department was first approved by the Surrey City Council on November 5, 2018.

The plan stresses that a local police force will be “more responsive” to the changing conditions and demands of the community. It’s also mentioned that out of the 19 Canadian population centres with more than 300,000 residents, Surrey is the only community that doesn’t have a local police force.

With files from Vincent Plana.