How Many Chances Do Repeat Offenders Get Under the NDP?

Public Safety Deteriorates While Chronic Property Crime Continues to Hurt Communities and Businesses


BC Conservative MLAs say British Columbians are still waiting for results from an NDP government that has spent a decade promising action on repeat offenders wreaking havoc on our communities.

“British Columbians are paying the price for a justice system that too often gives repeat offenders chance after chance while law abiding citizens are left to deal with the consequences,” said Macklin McCall, Conservative Critic for Public Safety and Solicitor General. 

“People deserve to feel safe in their communities, and that requires a justice system that prioritizes public safety, supports victims, and holds prolific offenders accountable.”

A recent report out of Dawson Creek has once again raised concerns about repeat violent offenders with extensive criminal histories who repeatedly breach court-ordered conditions, fail to comply with probation orders, and continue cycling through the justice system.

When criminals know there are few consequences, it impacts behaviour. And when the public sees people repeatedly released, it undermines confidence in the justice system,” said Steve Kooner, Critic for Attorney General. 

"British Columbians deserve confidence that court orders mean something and that repeat violent offenders face meaningful consequences when they repeatedly breach those conditions."

While communities deal with the public safety consequences of repeat offenders, small businesses in Kelowna and across B.C. are being left to absorb the costs of theft, vandalism, and chronic property crime.

"Chronic property crime is not only a public safety crisis, it has become an unbearable economic crisis," said Kooner. 

"Small businesses across British Columbia are absorbing the costs of theft, vandalism, and repeat offending, and some are on the brink of closing their doors because they simply can't keep up with the losses.”

“The Chronic Property and Public Disorder Intervention Initiative (C-POII) is lacking resources and front-line crown counsel prosecutors remain significantly understaffed, which continues to frustrate victims, businesses, and police," said Kooner. 

“The NDP government has failed to equip the justice system to address this crisis.”

"We've had a decade of NDP promises on public safety and the justice system with little to show for it. At what point does enough become enough?" said Kooner.