The B.C. government is allocating up to $5 million for a new program aimed at addressing street crime in the province’s downtown communities, including robbery, shoplifting, theft, and property damage.
The province’s new Community Safety and Targeted Enforcement (C-STEP) program intends to help police strengthen their response to property crimes and street disorder, says a May 30 release.
“Businesses that have been the victims of theft rings and shoplifting are understandably frustrated by the losses they have suffered,” Terry Yung, minister of state for community safety and integrated services, said in the statement.
“Building on the proven success of other public-safety initiatives, we are implementing C-STEP to further strengthen these efforts that support safer downtown cores, so people can build a good life in a safe community.”…