Double and triple digit increases in crime mean public safety must be job one: Linda Annis
Surrey, B.C. (June 8, 2026): Surrey First councillor and candidate for mayor Linda Annis says double and triple digit increases in crime as reported by the Surrey Police Service are deadly, dangerous and tear at the city’s well-earned reputation as a home for families.
“Comparing the first quarter of 2026 to the first quarter of 2025, the numbers show dramatic and frightening increases,” noted Annis, who wants to add 300 new officers and a police training centre in Surrey to speed up recruitment. “Compared to the same period last year, crimes against people are up 31 per cent, shots fired are up 94 per cent, homicides are up 300 per cent, business break and enters are up 60 per cent, and extortion cases are up 2275 per cent. These numbers are shocking and they tell all of us in Surrey that public safety must be job one, no matter who is mayor. Heading into the election, public safety must be the number one issue, because when a city is not safe, nothing else matters.”
Annis says that while the men and women of the Surrey Police Service are doing their very best, they do not have enough officers and resources, and they do not have a mayor who has their back, and who cut their budget by $47 million this year.
“Every Surrey mayor should be a champion and partner for the SPS, instead Mayor Locke is the biggest critic and has been since she was elected four years ago,” noted Annis. “Last week’s firing of Chief Norm Lipinski by the mayor’s handpicked police board, and the subsequent resignation of board chair Harley Chappell in protest, reinforce that Surrey’s mayor is more interested in petty politics than professional policing. It turns out that her priority isn’t public safety, her priority was firing Chief Lipinski.”
Annis says the mayor has used her four-year term to stop, stall and derail the police transition, wasting time and millions of dollars.
“The transition is now in year eight because of the mayor and her bad decisions,” added Annis. “Meanwhile, all of us in Surrey are tired of waking up only to learn about yet another shooting in one of our local neighbourhoods. The level and intensity of crime in our city is defining us, and we need to step up and make policing and public safety our collective priority as a community. Our mayor cannot stand on the sidelines and point fingers. These crime stats and the increases are happening on her watch, and she has done nothing to make things better, or safer. Instead, she has made it more and more difficult for the SPS to do the job they want to do.”
Annis said if she is elected mayor in October her number one priority will be public safety, including completing the police transition and hiring more officers.
“I also want our SPS officers to know that their mayor and council support them and the important work they are doing for our city,” added Annis. “I want them to know they have a reliable partner at city hall that is there to help them as they fight crime and make Surrey safe again.”
Annis said Surrey needs more police, more resources such as 600 new public safety cameras, and a mayor who can work side-by-side with the men and women of the SPS.
“As mayor, I will not be fighting with the SPS or with Victoria,” noted Annis. “The only people I’ll be fighting with are the gangs, the extortionists and the drug dealers. Frankly, it’s time to take back our city, something our current mayor has failed to do over her four-year fight with Chief Lipinski and the men and women of the SPS.”