A letter calling on the province to protect citizens in the face of B次元官网网址渃riminal activity and social disorderB次元官网网址� by enacting a Community Safety Act is making the rounds of B.C. city council chambers.

The Lilia Hansen on behalf of her council, sent to Minister of Public Safety Mike Farnworth and ccB次元官网网址檈d to municipal councils around B.C.

B次元官网网址淥ver the last few years, Fort St. John and many other communities have experienced increases in criminal activity and social disorder,B次元官网网址� says HansenB次元官网网址檚 letter. B次元官网网址淚n part, this deterioration has related to drug addiction and mental illness. It has also related to the apparent inability of the justice system to hold anyone accountable in a meaningful way.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭here is growing frustration at unchecked property crime and the experience of watching formerly safe neighbourhoods decay. It is demoralizing to watch the revolving door of arrests and releases and overdose deaths.B次元官网网址�

The mayor of Fort St. John says the province had a Safer Communities Act on its books that contained a B次元官网网址渟uite of reasonable, and seemingly effective tools that would have been extraordinarily helpful and reassuring to our citizens.B次元官网网址�

Unfortunately, the mayor said, that act was never brought into force. The mayor said municipal bylaws are no substitute for the B次元官网网址渕eaningful support of the provincial and federal government.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淥ur bylaws were enacted to provide solutions to manage conventional municipal problems like un-mowed grass, or loud music. These laws were never designed or intended to manage the impacts of organized crime destroying neighbourhoods with impunity,B次元官网网址� Hansen says.

The mayorB次元官网网址檚 request to the Solicitor General to consider enacting a Community Safety Act found sympathetic ears across the province in Campbell River where its council voted unanimously to endorse it.

B次元官网网址淵eah, the last paragraph really struck me,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚t said, B次元官网网址業 implore you to consider whether the balance should live between the rights of our citizens to enjoy a peaceful existence and the rights of those who have destroyed the peace.B次元官网网址� And this is something IB次元官网网址檝e always thought as well is, when things are out of balance, people get unhappy.

B次元官网网址淎nd IB次元官网网址檇 say the public tone right now isnB次元官网网址檛 happy with how things are being handled.B次元官网网址�

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