Editor’s Note: This article was updated to reflect a correction notice from the City of Surrey.
After the Surrey Police Union initially sounded the alarm about a perceived police budget cut, the City of Surrey and Surrey Police Board have announced that the budget is actually increasing.
The City of Surrey and the Surrey Police Board announced that the Surrey police budget will be increasing by $45 million compared to last year.
“The proposed 2026 budget, which represents an approximate $45 million increase over last year and $100 million in additional budgeted expenses since 2021, reflects a commitment to addressing the ongoing extortion crisis, strengthening frontline policing, and ensuring the SPS has the resources needed to protect Surrey residents,” a joint statement from the Board and City says.
A press release that the Surrey Police Union put out on Feb. 19, said the Surrey Police Board would be cutting nearly $47 million from the policing budget, including $14 million in “staffing reductions.”
Ryan Bhrug, the president of the Surrey Police Union, described the move as reckless.
“Cutting nearly $47 million from policing at the eleventh hour, while Surrey is facing an extortion crisis and while SPS is being asked to expand operations and assume additional districts, is reckless,” said Buhrig in the release.
The City and Board issued the correction shortly after.
Yesterday, the B.C. The Ministry of Public Safety and the Solicitor General announced a new community advisory group in response to the extortion crisis.
“The formation of this advisory group will help strengthen communication and trust between the community and law enforcement, and ensure that people’s voices are heard,” said Nina Krieger, minister of public safety and solicitor general, in a statement.
The Union also notes that the current Police Board “is incomplete and operating in a transition state with five Provincial board vacancies. Thus, two of the three voting directors present were appointed through mayor and Council processes.”