Surrey Police Turns 1: The Shocking Wins & Epic Failures ?
- Nov 30, 2025
- 2 min read
November 29th marks the one-year anniversary of the Surrey Police Service (SPS) becoming the police of jurisdiction in Surrey, British Columbia, concluding a historic and complex transition from the RCMP. This period has been defined by rapid organizational growth, a commitment to diversity, and significant operational challenges. As of November 2025, the SPS operates with a total of 1,099 staff, including 608 sworn police officers out of the 810 funded positions for 2025, supported by 491 civilian staff. The force has successfully expanded its jurisdiction from the initial deployment in Whalley/City Centre and Newton to include full responsibility for South Surrey, responding to over 105,000 calls for service (with the RCMP covering another 65,000) as part of the ongoing dual-policing model. The SPS is intentionally building an inclusive culture; of all sworn officers, 43.74% are visible minorities, 19.04% are women, and officers collectively speak approximately 36-37 different languages. Management composition is also tracked, showing 35.29% visible minorities and 20.59% women. The force attracts talent with competitive packages, including signing bonuses up to $25,000 and First Class Constable salaries up to $140,287. Operationally, the SPS emphasizes advanced training (e.g., Operational Medicine, Gracie Survival Tactics) and technological efficiency, using systems like the Digital Evidence Management System (DEMS) and introducing District Inspector positions for localized accountability. However, the transition has faced major hurdles, primarily financial and operational. Critics cite the cost, including the $141.5 million provisional 2024 budget. Furthermore, despite recruitment success, the force faces staffing gaps, contributing to the prolonged transition timeline. Most critically, the first year has seen alarming increases in specific crime categories (comparing September 2024 to September 2025 data): Extortion (South Asian Series) saw a massive rise (up to +2100% in monthly reports), and significant increases were also recorded in Robbery (+69%) and Assault (+21%) year-to-date totals, underscoring critical public safety challenges that the new force is actively working to address.
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