Whereas victim service programs provide support and assistance to victims of crime; And whereas a variety of agencies and local governments deliver victim services programs in different communities, with varying degrees of expertise and resources; And whereas the funding formula for victim services is built around population it does not take into consideration the absence of a community based program resulting in the responsibility falling on local police based programs along with additional responsibilities of committees, such as being the facilitator for Integrated Case Assessment Teams ICAT: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the provincial government to fully fund all victim services programs in British Columbia.
Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General Government is committed to ensuring that victims of crime have access to the services and supports they need. The Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General provides over 60 million annually in funding to support over 475 victim service and violence against women programs across the province. The Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General contracts and works with provincial associations like Police Victim Services of BC to ensure that their member programs are supported and have access to the required training to effectively support victims of crime across British Columbia. Police-based victim service programs are cost-shared with local governments in communities that contribute to their policing costs. This cost-sharing approach recognizes the critical role that police-based victim service programs play in police and community response to crime and trauma, particularly around crisis response services. We are aware that some service providers and programs continue to face financial pressures and ministry staff continue to work with those service providers to address these issues.