British Columbia is seeing measurable improvements in public safety following targeted investments in policing. The province’s Crime Severity Index fell 11 percent in 2024, marking the largest drop in Canada and the lowest level in six years.
In the 2025-26 fiscal year, nearly $13 million was provided to police to tackle repeat violent offenders, street disorder, and retail theft. The Special Investigation and Targeted Enforcement program, or SITE, launched in 2023, has supported 175 operations across 47 communities. These efforts have resulted in more than 6,200 investigations, over 3,000 recommended charges, and the seizure of weapons, drugs, stolen property, and cash.
The Community Safety and Targeted Enforcement program, or CSTEP, introduced in 2025, focuses on street-level crime and retail theft. By partnering with local businesses, social services, and community organizations, the program has conducted 40 operations in 26 communities. Early results include hundreds of investigations, dozens of charges, and the recovery of stolen merchandise and cash.
Provincial officials say these programs strengthen public safety, disrupt cycles of crime, and help vulnerable individuals access support. The investments demonstrate a broader strategy to make B.C. communities safer through policing, health services, housing, and justice initiatives.
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