British ColumbiaEight officers will be reallocated after public meeting focused on complaints about downtown safety.Eight officers to be reallocated following complaints of arson and public safetyAndrew Kurjata · CBC News · Posted: Nov 07, 2025 8:31 PM EST | Last Updated: 7 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 2 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.The downtown location of CrossRoads Brewing & Distillery is pictured after being gutted by an early morning fire in Prince George, B.C., in early September. Complaints over safety in downtown Prince George have now led to RCMP reallocating their resources in the area. (Nicole Oud/CBC)Prince George RCMP is reallocating some of its resources to focus on a 24/7 downtown patrol after several weeks of complaints about public disorder in the city centre.Complaints were sparked by an arson that destroyed a popular brewery just steps away from city hall in early September.They culminated in a public meeting in late October, in which business owners and other members of the community gathered in the CN Centre arena to voice their complaints about what they viewed as a lack of action from political leadership.In an email to CBC News, Prince George RCMP Supt. Darin Rappel said the RCMP’s 24/7 patrol program will be run using existing resources, with a focus on bringing more eyes to the neighbourhood, and that it will be reviewed in December for effectiveness.WATCH | Rally for downtown safety:Prince George, B.C., business owners rally for public safetyHundreds of people rallied in Prince George, B.C., Thursday, calling for urgent co-ordinated action from all levels of government to combat what they call a public safety crisis. As Hanna Petersen reports, local business owners say they are at their breaking point, with street disorder having a significant impact on their livelihoods.In a statement, the City of Prince George said the decision to start up the program came after senior members of the B.C. RCMP and the province’s policing and security branch toured downtown Prince George and held roundtable discussions on safety concerns. “This was not a one-off conversation,” city manager Walter Babicz said in the statement.“Maintaining communication between the city and the province remains a top priority, and we are committed to seeing tangible results from our advocacy efforts.”He said the city is also hoping to welcome other provincial leaders, including Premier David Eby, for a similar tour and discussion around safety concerns.The city says the downtown unit will consist of eight RCMP members, working in two-person shifts, to respond to “street disorder, including shoplifting, mischief, arson, disturbances, assaults, overdose assists with Emergency Health Services, and drug-related offences.”Officials previously declined to declare a state of local emergency over the situation, as requested by some members of the Downtown Prince George business association.The city stated that while it took their concerns seriously, the parameters for a state of emergency declaration was limited to unique situations — such as natural disasters which require the city to implement rules, such as curfews and restricted areas, to protect public safety.
RCMP officers reallocated to patrol downtown Prince George 24/7 following disorder complaints
