Police cars and yellow tape block 112B Street after a deadly shooting in Surrey on January 15, 2013. Photograph by: Wayne Leidenfrost , PNG

SURREY— The Christy Clark government needs to urgently address the crisis in public safety in Surrey, where there has now been more than 50 shooting incidents this year.

“This week’s shooting was the second to take place outside a Surrey elementary school in less than three months. People in these communities are frightened, and they are frustrated,” said Bruce Ralston, New Democrat MLA for Surrey-Whalley.

“This is a crisis and it requires immediate coordinated action. Instead, Premier Clark has brought piecemeal announcements and discussions, and not all of the 100 additional RCMP officers her government promised are on the streets.”

Data from the Surrey RCMP shows violent crime is up 40 per cent over last year and attempted murder is up 188 per cent.

“Nearly every week, there is a shooting in a Surrey neighbourhood. We need to take immediate action to end the gun violence in Surrey, and we need long-term solutions from all levels of government. Premier Clark is failing to provide either, and as a result, her government is failing the people of Surrey.”