Prince George-Mackenzie MLA Mike Morris sees improved services for those with addictions and mental health troubles as a way to reduce the burden on police.
The Opposition B.C. Liberals public safety critic and a former North District RCMP superintendent says the ideal workload for an officer is 50-60 cases a year. But according to a 2021 provincial report on police resources, officers at the Prince George RCMP detachment averaged 120 cases a year.
In February, Prince George city council approved a budget that includes $1.02 million to hire four more Mounties and two more civilian employees. But that is still well short of the 19 officers and 10 employees a consultant recommended in December 2022.
While policing within city limits is a municipal responsibility, Morris said the provincial government could step in on another front.
"We need to treat those with mental health and addictions and I think that will have a significant impact on bringing the crime rate down," he said.
Morris was critical of the progress the governing NDP has made so far, saying there is a lack of emphasis on building the facilities needed to provide the help.
"They can talk about having all these workers on the street but unless they've got the facilities to treat them...it hasn't worked for the number of years that we've seen and it won't work in the future," he said.
The provincial budget issued Tuesday includes $867 million over three years to increase the number of recovery and treatment beds as a way to provide receive "seamless care" after detoxing and treatment.
Morris says tougher sentences for prolific offenders and letting police do their jobs is also needed.
"They know best what's happening on the street," he said.
- with files from The Canadian Press
