 |
|
VANCOUVER
– A Vancouver Police Department pilot
program to return accused criminals to provinces where they face charges is
getting a $40,000 grant from the provincial government, Solicitor General John
Les announced today.
“There are far too many
people in this province wanted elsewhere on criminal charges and I’m pleased to
support the efforts of police to send them packing,” said Les. “The VPD tell me
that with this funding from the Civil Forfeiture Office they will be able to
send up to 30 people back to other provinces to face charges.”
The
CON AIR program targets people who commit crimes in other provinces in Canada,
and are charged, but who get released on bail and then fail to attend
court. They then leave the province and never face their charges. Many end
up in Vancouver, where their warrants do not extend to. As well, many of the
crimes these offenders are accused of are serious in nature and yet, as long as
they do not return to their home province, they never face prosecution.
“A study last year showed there were 600
criminals from other provinces walking the streets of Vancouver, and this money
will help to send some of the worst offenders home to face justice,” said
Vancouver Police Department Chief Jim Chu.
The terms of the grant are
that the money may only be spent returning people on outstanding warrants. The
VPD will be required to track spending of the funds and report the results to
the Civil Forfeiture Office.
Funding from the office for
the CON AIR program is the latest in a series of measures to fight crime and
help victims by using civil forfeiture proceeds to support grassroots crime
prevention and victims’ assistance in communities across the province.
The
work of the office helps take the profit
out of organized crime and other illegal activities. Where it has been proven
in civil court that property was acquired as a result of, or used for, unlawful
activity, the Supreme Court can order the property forfeited. Proceeds from its
sale are paid into a special account to compensate eligible victims of an
unlawful activity, prevent unlawful activities by providing grants to fund
crime prevention activities, remedy the effects of unlawful activities and
cover costs related to the administration of the act.
The Solicitor General made
the funding announcement today at a press conference and petition-signing in
support of the CON AIR program at the South Vancouver Community Policing
Centre.
-30-
|
contact: |
Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General 250 356-6961 |
|
|
|
||
|
For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca. |
||
