‘The government doesn’t take it seriously,’ says a Surrey MLA about gun violence in the city

SURREY (NEWS 1130) – After more gun violence in Surrey yesterday afternoon, the BC NDP is grilling the province over a lack of crime-fighting resources in the city.

Mounties found a man with a bullet wound after calls about a shooting on 140th Street next to Bear Creek Park.

There have already been 31 calls to police about gun shots in Surrey so far this year, after just 60 in all of 2015.

Surrey-Newton MLA Harry Bains says the provincial government isn’t doing enough to slow the escalating violence.

“The government spin isn’t working. What we need is not spin doctoring or public relations. We need real action and real resources given to the police and law enforcement agencies,” says Bains.

“Because of a lack of resources this provincial government brings to the table, because of a lack of real strategy to curb crime and cut gun violence in Surrey, it is escalating.”

Bains says along with more resources for police, parents and teachers need to be given tools so they’re able to help kids at risk.

“It’s not happening because the government doesn’t even take it seriously,” he claims. “If they [did], we would have seen some results. So far, whatever strategy they have — if they have any — isn’t working, and the results are clear. Everyone sees it.”

What would he do if he were justice minister?

“I would give all the resources to police that they need with a comprehensive plan to tackle gun violence in Surrey. They know the players that are involved in this gun violence,” says the three-term MLA.

Bains didn’t put a dollar amount on how much he thinks it would cost to cut violent crime in the city.

The victim in yesterday’s shooting is expected to survive. Mounties believe it was a targeted hit.