Number of extortion files has increased since task force was established, RCMP saysB.C. RCMP Assistant Commissioner John Brewer says the increase in extortion cases is in part due to the task force receiving more calls and reports since the task force was created. The LatestPolice, politicians and the public discussed the wave of extortion in B.C. at a CBC News town hall tonight.Members of the public pressed officials about what’s being done to investigate the crisis, which has targeted the South Asian community in and around Metro Vancouver. One representative from the business community said the anxiety around extortion has shifted, with people feeling it’s a matter of “when” and not “if.”B.C. RCMP’s assistant commissioner said the force was initially “on the back foot,” but said they’re better resourced and encouraged to see more people reporting the crimes.November 1438 minutes agoFrustration and complexity of extortion crisis laid bareAkshay KulkarniTonight’s audience. (Ben Nelms/CBC)The town hall ended with some shouting over the closing comments — perhaps fitting for an evening where the frustrations of a community on edge were laid bare.Much of the event was spent on questions trying to untangle the complex law enforcement response to the recent rash of extortion cases, as well as the role of international gangs and foreign governments in the violence.The response from law enforcement in particular was one of encouragement and determination. RCMP and Surrey police officials said the work of the cross-agency task force is bearing fruit, and officials were very firm in their hopes that public co-operation would lead to perpetrators being charged with crimes.We’re ending our updates on this page, but we’ll continue to cover B.C.’s extortion crisis on cbc.ca/bc.46 minutes agoNot everyone was sold on officials’ responses tonightJon HernandezMembers of the public shared how they’ve been affected by the extortion crisis at the event tonight. (Ben Nelms/CBC)A passionate town hall comes to an end.Judging by the amount of cheers and applause for some of the comments made by community members, it’s clear that many residents are frustrated by what they view as a lack of progress when it comes to arrests and charges for extortion crimes, and they want more to be done.The messaging from law enforcement and provincial officials has been consistent over the past few months, and was reiterated again tonight: investigations take time but the extortion crisis is a priority. But the message didn’t quite satisfy everyone here tonight.1 hour agoThe town hall has just finishedAkshay KulkarniB.C. Public Safety Minister Nina Krieger at tonight’s town hall. (Ben Nelms/CBC)In closing, Krieger thanked the audience for attending and reiterated what she heard tonight — concern over the complicated cross-agency response, international threats and frustration over whether officials are doing enough to reassure community members.She said the province is continuing to support bail reform measures and the work of the extortion task force, and said there is a “deep commitment” in the room to support the work of law enforcement.Krieger ended with a call for more public information and reporting to help deal with extortion cases, including through anonymous tips.1 hour agoCanadian sovereignty is top priority, Liberal MP saysAkshay KulkarniAnother audience member touches on a common theme from the public tonight — questioning whether the continued thawing of relations between Canada and India means national leaders are prioritizing trade with India over allegations that the Indian government is involved with violent crimes in Canada.Liberal MP Dhaliwal says that was the same question he posed to Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand. He said he was assured the government was not “sacrificing the sovereignty and safety of Canadians.”He said Indian officials were told of the need for co-operation with investigations, to be up front and “make sure there’s zero interference from the Indian government and their agents.”1 hour agoInternational scope, local crisis: SimsAkshay KulkarniJinny Sims addresses the town hall. (Ben Nelms/CBC)Despite the international scope of extortion, Sims said that the fact remains that this crisis is happening in Surrey.“When the shooters are here, and they’re shooting the people here, they need to be arrested here,” she said.1 hour agoJon HernandezAnother audience member tells the panel there have been three shootings in their neighbourhood during the recent crime wave, and expressed frustration over the lack of arrests.Lipinski reiterated that investigations take time if they’re going to secure a conviction.“The intention of all the police in this room is to hold these people to account,” the police chief said. “To do that, we need a strong case. And that’s what we’re putting together.”1 hour agoRadio host calls for increased transparency from investigatorsJon HernandezConnect FM radio host Vijay Saini said there needs to be greater transparency on alleged extortionists. In particular, he asked why the three people who were recently deported by the CBSA haven’t been publicly identified.“Those three names should be plastered everywhere,” said Saini. “We don’t owe them anything. Families need to see criminals in handcuffs.”1 hour agoRadio host suggests a special prosecutor in SurreyAkshay KulkarniAttorney General Niki Sharma responds to questions at the community town hall. (Ben Nelms/CBC)Jaswinder Singh Dilawari, one of Sims’ fellow hosts at Swift Radio, said he has conducted interviews with officials like Surrey’s mayor and the chief constable on what they need to solve the extortion crisis.He asked why there isn’t a special prosecutor for Surrey to help deal with extortion cases, and whether there is enough co-ordination among different levels of government on the issue.Sharma, B.C.’s attorney general, said a special prosecutor might not be fit to deal with a rash of extortion cases, as they don’t investigate cases themselves.She also reiterated that one of her top priorities is making sure Crown prosecutors are well resourced to deal with the crisis.2 hours agoCross-agency communication ‘seamless,’ RCMP official saysAkshay KulkarniAn audience member says there needs to be a single government representative fronting the response to extortionists in Surrey.He likened the situation to a war — and that he’d never seen a war where the winning side had multiple leaders and no single objective.In response, Brewer said the communication between agencies in the extortion task force is “virtually seamless.”“When it comes to working on investigations and criminality, police roll up their sleeves, we put away whatever the different badges are and everything else, and we work on dealing with criminality,” he said.2 hours agoExtortion cases linked to Indian ‘payback’: criminologistAkshay KulkarniUniversity of the Fraser Valley criminologist Wade Deisman addresses the audience. (Ben Nelms/CBC)University of the Fraser Valley criminologist Wade Deisman, who has worked on national security initiatives, links the extortion crisis to a campaign of “trans-national payback” by the Indian government against Canada for being a “safe haven” for supporters of the Khalistan movement, which pushes for a separate Sikh state in India.Even as support for the Khalistan cause has quietened, experts say it has carried momentum among Sikhs in Western countries like Canada, which is home to the largest Sikh population outside India.
Frustrated community grills police, politicians about extortion in B.C.s Lower Mainland
