Surrey outreach team connecting with people on ‘The Strip’

SURREY (NEWS 1130) – The colder-than-normal weather has been helping Surrey’s Outreach Team make more meaningful connections with people who hang out on 135-A street.

The team officially launched this week providing 24/7 police presence on the section of road in Whalley known as “The Strip.”

The team consisting of 12 specially trained RCMP officers and four bylaw officers was announced last month, but is now fully operational.

The goal is to build relationships with the homeless and drug addicted people there in hopes of finding them shelter and treatment.

Sergeant Alanna Dunlop says the winter weather seems to be leading to greater success.

“We were engaging with people who did want to access shelters and that. In doing that with people, you can build those relationships just by facilitating them being in a warmer place when it’s very cold,” says Dunlop.

“Being able to stabilize the area, focussing in on the public safety aspect, building relationships, we can facilitate those agencies engaging with the most vulnerable people to look at a longer-term approach.”

An office of sorts is being built for the team so it can keep a consistent presence on 135-A.

The dedicated team reaching out to people on the Surrey strip credits colder weather for some of its early success.

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