Lyonel Doherty, Times Chronicle
Area C director Rick Knodel is encouraging more lobbying to protect citizens from prolific offenders in the South Okanagan.
Knodel addressed the Community Safety and Crime Prevention Committee on April 11 to discuss repeat offenders and their toll on society.
He said police forces could use more help dealing with these criminals, some of whom are immediately released back on the street after breaching their probation.
Knodel said the committee should be lobbying the justice ministry to start protecting “vulnerable citizens.”
“Violence is starting to grow because there doesn’t seem to be any particular deterrence at this moment.”
The director said the justice system needs more strength to prevent these offenders from being released after flouting court orders.
When Knodel turned to Oliver RCMP Sgt. Don Wrigglesworth for his view, the commander said police present their best case to the Crown and do not comment on sentencing.
“We have to understand there are different levels taken into consideration. We may not always agree with what happens but it doesn’t mean we are right either, because there are a whole lot of factors that come in.”
Knodel suggested the committee petition the government for more stringent control over prolific offenders.
Shirley Zelinski, coordinator of Oliver Crime Watch, expressed a concern about the influx of “street people getting off the bus” in Oliver every spring.
“Two managers from the provincial health department confirmed to me that their (visitors) way is paid by the public.”
According to Zelinski, these people are removed from Vancouver and Victoria and placed in other municipalities.
“This year they are back because COVID restrictions have been lifted right in time for the cruise industry,” she said.
Zelinski said small communities should be lobbying against this, adding it isn’t fair.
But committee chair Aimee Grice said if they take any action they must ensure that these claims are substantiated.
Wrigglesworth piped in by saying the Town of Oliver typically sees new faces in April, although numbers were down during the past couple of years.
He agreed with Grice they need to confirm any claims before they jump the gun. He added they don’t want to create something big or the impression that a “witch hunt” is taking place.
“We definitely need hard facts before we say these people are sent here by the bus,” the officer said.
Zelinski said her biggest concern with these visitors is the potential fire risk.
