Survey shows crime and drugs are making British Columbia residents concerned about their safety

With provincial elections approaching, more British Columbians than ever fear for the safety of their communities.

A new poll from Save Our Streets shows that half of British Columbia residents are concerned about public safety, just one of many other concerns the majority of the province’s population has about crime.

Nearly three-quarters of British Columbia residents, 74%, said crime and violence affect their quality of life, while 55% said criminal activity in their communities has increased over the past four years.

In 2021, Vancouver police reported that four people per day were targeted in random, unprovoked attacks.

More British Columbia residents trust the police (61%) to adequately deal with crime and public safety than any other institution.

Fewer respondents trust the provincial government (45%), municipal government (43%), the justice system (38%) and the federal government (36%) to properly handle crime and public safety in British Columbia communities.

British Columbia residents were likely to be critical of the provincial justice system, with 61% saying the system does not strike an appropriate balance between the rights of offenders and victims.

Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre has promised to withdraw Bill C-75, saying it is responsible for the bail system that allows people to be released.

He said that in Vancouver, the same 40 offenders were arrested 6,000 times, an average of 150 arrests per offender per year, or once every two days.

Nearly nine in ten, 87%, of British Columbians support changing the bail system to keep repeat offenders in custody pending trial. A similar 87% support tougher sentences, such as prison sentences, for those with multiple offenses.

British Columbia Conservative Party leader John Rustad has also pledged to end “revolving door justice.”

Although British Columbians fear for their safety, they believe the provincial government is most responsible for crime and public safety. 40% of British Columbians felt this level of government should be most responsible, followed by 27% who said the same about municipal governments and 23% about the federal government.

British Columbia residents cited addiction and mental health issues as the top reasons for poor public safety and rising crime, with 88% of respondents citing this concern. Other top concerns included poverty and inequality (81%), gangs and illegal drug trafficking (79%), the inadequate justice system (76%), and more.

The poll was conducted September 9-12 among 1,200 British Columbia residents to find out what issues matter most to British Columbians ahead of the October 19 election.

“As discouraging as these results may seem at first glance, the good news is that county residents have clearly indicated that they are open to new ideas and are willing to support new and more comprehensive approaches to tackling crime, reforming our justice system, and providing effective treatment and recovery options for people suffering from addictions and mental illness,” said Jess Ketchum, co-founder of Save Our Streets.

The NDP has been in power in British Columbia since 2017.

Recent polls suggest the BC NDP and Conservatives are neck and neck heading into the upcoming election. Rustad has focused on public safety, promising to shut down the “drug dens” of BC NDP Leader David Eby and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and close safe consumption sites.