Safer streets, targeted solutions

The program builds on pilot projects launched in late 2025 in Kelowna, Nanaimo and Nelson. Police involved in those early efforts reported more stable crime trends, including reductions in break-and-enter incidents, and improved coordination between justice partners.

At its core, the initiative brings together police, prosecutors, probation officers and mental-health professionals to monitor repeat offenders more closely while also connecting them with services such as housing, addiction treatment and income supports. The province is investing $16 million over two years to expand the program, including the creation of 12 new regional hubs to supervise hundreds of individuals across B.C.

The initiative is modelled after a similar program targeting repeat violent offenders, which has already shown measurable success in reducing reoffending and strengthening court outcomes. In communities like Prince George, local business leaders say efforts to improve safety are already making a difference, particularly through investments in technology and enforcement.

“I will say the difference that we’ve seen in the last six months, come directly from our camera program,” said Chrissie Berry, executive director of Downtown Prince George. “And so we do have those security cameras that are monitor all the time. And we’ve seen a huge decrease in activity in those areas, actually. And so we know that it’s shifted elsewhere. So we are looking to expand that program.”

Berry noted that while enforcement tools like surveillance cameras and increased monitoring have helped reduce incidents in targeted areas, they are only one piece of a much larger puzzle.

“So we’ve said from the get go of our advocacy last fall that, there isn’t a magic silver bullet that’s going to fix this issue,” Berry said. “It has to be a layered approach of housing, mental health supports and all those types of things.”

That layered strategy aligns with the province’s approach, which pairs enforcement with supports aimed at addressing the root causes of repeat offending, including homelessness, addiction and mental health challenges.

Still, many in the community say visible enforcement remains critical in the short term.

“Presence is a big thing,” Berry added. “So we know that when we have more RCMP presence downtown, we have more bylaw presence downtown, we see less crime happening. It’s just how it goes.”

As the program expands across the province, government officials say the goal is not only to reduce crime, but to build safer, more resilient communities through collaboration and targeted intervention. While it may take time to see full results, the combination of enforcement, monitoring and social supports is being positioned as a more comprehensive response to a complex and persistent challenge.

by Nick Dube

Safer streets, targeted solutions

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