BC’s largest jail getting bigger

By

SURREY (NEWS1130) – BC’s biggest provincial jail is getting a little bigger, as Ottawa pushes through its tough on crime agenda.

With a hard hat and vest firmly in place, Justice Minister Shirley Bond ceremoniously made the cement flow on Floor 1 of the under-construction Surrey Pretrial Centre. She says it will now have 216 cells, which is dozens more than expected.

She admits the federal crime bill will have an impact in our province. “This [expansion] will not reduce over-crowding completely. But it’s a big step in the right direction and we’re going to continue to add capacity where that’s necessary.”

“We have to look at the trends in crime rates; they’re down, the lowest they’ve been in almost 40 years in the province,” she adds.

The expanded jail is expected to open by late 2013.

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today