April 1, 2009
NDP leader Carole James today announced her party’s so-called “crime plan” – the hiring of 168 new police officers. If you’re getting a powerful feeling of déjà vu, it’s because the BC Liberal government already announced the hiring of 168 new officers as part of our comprehensive crime-fighting strategy in February! The NDP are so lacking in new ideas, they’re now stealing BC Liberal ideas outright and hoping no one notices.
The BC Liberal plan to fight gang and gun crime:
- More police officers – Adding 168 new police officers dedicated to fighting gang violence across BC, including new 16-member anti-gang units in Prince George and Kelowna. Contrary to NDP dishonesty, these are new positions. The NDP have also voted against more than 1,100 new police officers.
- More prosecutors – Adding 10 prosecutors dedicated to gang crime, for a total of 26 prosecutors dedicated to fighting gang and gun crimes. The NDP have voted against funding for prosecutors.
- More jails – Investing $185 million to build 304 more jail cells able to hold 600-plus offenders. The NDP have actively opposed new jails and voted against their funding.
- Tougher laws – Pursuing changes to federal law to give prosecutors more power to keep criminals off the street, tighter bail restrictions, eliminating two-for-one credit for time served while awaiting trial, modernizing wiretap rules and simplifying evidence disclosure requirements to expedite prosecution. The NDP in Ottawa have opposed tougher laws.
- Cracking down on illegal guns – Taking over the federal firearms program in B.C. and creating a 10-member “weapons enforcement unit” to seize illegal guns.
- Outlaw armoured vehicles and body armour – Outlawing modified, armoured vehicles and put in place licensing for the sale and purchase of body armour
- New gang hotline and rewards program – Establishing a new hotline and a new escalating rewards program for anonymous tips leading to the arrest and conviction of gang members.
Click for more information on the
BC Liberal and NDP records on crime.