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Surrey NDP MLAs pushing for community court

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SURREY — The provincial NDP is pushing the B.C. Liberals to finally put a community court in Surrey.

Announced at a news conference on Sunday, the NDP has added a community court to its Surrey Accord, which also calls on the provincial government to increase policing, oversee recovery homes and develop a plan to support people with mental health issues.

“Everyone understands and agrees that the community court, starting out in cities like New York, works,” said Surrey-Newton MLA Harry Bains. “It helps to break the cycle of people with addiction and mental health who are involved with crime.”

Community courts handle cases of repeat offenders with relation to drug use and mental illness. Offenders are directed to a variety of social services, including drug treatment, counselling and health care.

Vancouver has had a community court in the Downtown Eastside since 2008, which Bains said has proven to be effective. He claims that in the first five months of the Vancouver court opening, 450 people were treated.

“I think it’s a success story and we don't need to wait anymore.”

Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts has pushed for a community court since 2006 when it was added into the city's crime reduction strategy. She told the Now in 2011 that the city was still pursuing the prospect of opening a community court.

“If we’ve got an individual coming forward, we want to make sure that they have the support systems around them to be able to move on and become a productive member of society as opposed to become part of the revolving door of the justice system,” she said. “The system is innovative, cost-effective and more efficient than the provincial court system.”

More recently, Watts has stated that the city is already working with province toward creating the court, and that once council and staff move into Surrey's new city hall, the old hall could be used to house a community court.

Watts is set to further discuss the need for the court with Attorney General Suzanne Anton on Feb. 5.

- With files from Amy Reid