With the provincial election underway, more British Columbians than ever fear for their safety in their community.
In a new poll by Save Our Streets, half of British Columbians worried about public safety, adding to a long list of other concerns held by the majority of the province’s population regarding crime.
Almost three-quarters of British Columbians, 74%, said that crime and violence impact their quality of life, while 55% said that criminal activity in their communities has increased in the past four years.
The Vancouver police previously reported in 2021 that four people a day were targets of random, unprovoked assaults.
More British Columbians trust the police (61%) to adequately handle crime and public safety than any other institution.
Fewer respondents trust the provincial government (45%), the municipal government (43%), the justice system (38%), and the federal government (36%) to properly handle crime and public safety in B.C. communities.
British Columbians were likely to be critical ofthe provincial justice system, with 61% stating that it fails to strike the right balance between the rights of offenders and victims.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has promised to repeal Bill C-75, which he blamed for the catch-and-release bail system.
He said that in Vancouver, the same 40 offenders were arrested 6,000 times—an average of 150 arrests per offender per year, or once every two days.
Almost nine in ten, 87%, of British Columbians support modifying the bail system to keep repeat offenders in custody while awaiting trial. An equal 87% support harsher penalties, such as incarceration for individuals with multiple offences.
Conservative Party of B.C. Leader John Rustad has also vowed to end “revolving door justice.”
While British Columbians fear for their safety, they feel that the provincial government is the most responsible for crime and public safety. 40% of British Columbians felt this level of government should be the most responsible, followed by 27% who said the same of municipal governments and 23% for the federal government.
British Columbians cited addiction and mental health issues as the top reasons for poor public safety and rising crime, with 88% of respondents expressing this concern. Other top concerns were poverty and inequality (81%), gangs and illegal drug trade (79%), the inadequate court system (76%), and more.
The poll was commissioned to 1,200 British Columbians between Sep. 9 and 12 to see which issues affected British Columbians most before heading to the polls on Oct. 19.
“As disheartening as these results may appear at first glance, the good news is residents across the province have clearly stated that they are open to new ideas and willing to support new and expanded approaches to tackle crime, reform our justice system and provide effective treatment and recovery options for people suffering from addiction and mental illnesses,” said Jess Ketchum, Co-Founder of Save Our Streets.
The NDP has been in power in British Columbia since 2017.
Recent polling suggests the B.C. NDP and Conservatives are neck and neck heading into the upcoming election. Rustad has put some focus on public safety, pledging to end B.C. NDP Leader David Eby and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s “drug dens” and shut down safe-consumption sites.