Kamloops, Okanagan communities getting serious about prolific offenders

A Kamloops politician and South Okanagan business people are mounting pressure against prolific offenders.

Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo MP Frank Caputo will be tabling a private members bill that would create a “presumptive detention” for “those that commit serious offences,” according to a press release from his office.

“Kamloops RCMP Supt. Syd Lecky recently stated that approximately 5% of all offenders are creating 90% of their work,” Caputo said in the release.

“This is due to offenders being able to frequently reoffend for the same crime while awaiting trial.”

Bill C-274 would apply to anybody accused of three indictable offences with a maximum penalty of five years or greater, the release says, and judges will still have discretion to release the accused in exceptional circumstances.

Caputo’s constituents “are begging for changes in the law so that crime can be addressed. These requests have fallen on deaf ears.”

He said the ruling Liberal Party of Canada has a soft-on-crime approach.

Down in the South Okanagan, prolific offenders have drawn the ire of the Penticton & Wine Country Chamber of Commerce, where local members will be lobbying the B.C. Chamber of Commerce to adopt a new policy on the issue.

“Recidivism and crime rates are high in the Okanagan and there is a need for improvements within the justice system to address these realities,” according to a press release from the local chamber.

The policy will be presented at the provincial chamber next month. More details about the policy are expected when the B.C. Chamber’s next position manual is released until next month. The policy will be in place for three years if adopted.

Three years ago, in 2019, the B.C. Chamber adopted this policy regarding prolific offenders.

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