The Surrey Police Service (SPS) and the Surrey RCMP say they’re going to keep working together on policing, even after the SPS becomes the police of jurisdiction.
The SPS is set to take over on Nov. 29, but it says the RCMP will continue operating in Surrey and offering temporary transition support to the fledging police force.
That means Surrey residents will continue to see both SPS and RCMP cruisers in the community until the SPS is fully staffed up.
“Since the fall of 2021, we have been gradually introducing Surrey Police Service officers and vehicles to the community so residents and business owners can get to know SPS, and we can get to know them,” said SPS Chief Constable Norm Lipinski.
“The change in Surrey’s police of jurisdiction on November 29th is the next phase of this transition and SPS is excited and honoured to serve as Surrey’s new police service.”
The SPS says the full transition depends on mutiple factors including the hiring of officers, upgrading infrastructure, and transferring police files from the RCMP to the SPS.
“The RCMP has proudly served the City of Surrey since 1951 and we remain committed to a transition that prioritizes public and officer safety,” said RCMP Assistant Commissioner John Brewer.
“We will ensure there is certainty for our Surrey members as we shift to a provincial support unit for Surrey, with specific roles and responsibilities. Significant work is underway to advance Surrey’s policing transition and the RCMP remains committed to providing policing to the citizens of Surrey.”
The SPS hasn’t given a timeline for how long that entire process will take.
Police confirm that the ways to call police or visit a police station in Surrey will not change as a result of the transition.