Public Safety Minister Garry Begg announced on Friday (June 20) that the province is boosting funding for a special investigations program targeting repeat violent offenders.
The Special Investigations and Targeted Enforcement (SITE) program, introduced in 2023, has contributed to 5,425 investigations resulting in 2,676 charges being laid. A $6-million funding boost announced by Begg will bring the total funding for the program to $17 million.
"We are ensuring SITE remains available to help police agencies expand their abilities to crack down on repeat violent crime more effectively and keep dangerous people off our streets," Begg said in a news release.
Funding from the initiative is administered by the RCMP and given to local police agencies based on specific needs. Local police create specific enforcement programs and apply for the money.
The Vancouver Police Department credits SITE-funded initiatives for a 27-per-cent drop in violent crime in Hastings Crossing and a 45-per-cent drop in weapons-related assaults in Gastown from October 2024 to January 2025.
Another example is in Abbotsford, where the SITE-funded Project Spotlight targeted repeat violent offenders involved in property crime. This initiative used $643,000 to pay for extra patrols and surveillance, which led to 108 people being charged with 271 offences.
It has also been used for even more specific action. In 91大黄鸭, $216,000 was used to help pay for an operation targeting a repeat violent offender's property. This led to five people being charged with crimes, as well as the recovery of stolen vehicles and the seizure of drugs and firearms. Police even found a live grenade.
More to come.
