Surrey police prepare to take command, ending years-long saga – B.C.

Signs were removed outside the Surrey RCMP detachment on Thursday and replaced with Surrey Police Service (SPS) signs.

From midnight, SPS is the competent police station for the city.

“Surrey Police will be ready at the stroke of midnight tonight when we become the jurisdictional police for the City of Surrey,” said SPS spokesperson Staff Sgt. Lindsey Houghton told Global News.

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SPS is preparing to take jurisdictional control in Surrey

The switch comes after years of struggle that eventually forced the province to intervene.

“I think it's a great day for the people of the city of Surrey,” said former Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum, who initiated the transition in 2018.

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“It has been six years since we filed the original motion, but this is the largest transfer of a police force in North America.”

Over the coming days, SPS will be handling calls in Districts 1 and 3 of Surrey. The RCMP will attend calls in Districts 2, 4 and 5.

Over time, that will change as more officers are hired.

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RCMP questions the readiness of Surrey police

SPS says it has also signed agreements with all integrated teams of the region and province.

“If there is a homicide in the city of Surrey, we will work with (the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team),” Houghton said.

“If a major collision occurs, we work with the collision team. If we need (police helicopter) Air One, we call Air One. None of that will change.”

The RCMP said it would not comment on the transition until a news conference scheduled for Friday.

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