Call for more prosecutors in Kelowna

Mar 3, 2022 | 3:35 PM

The B.C. Crown Counsel Association says the province needs to provide funding for at least five more prosecutors in Kelowna due to growing case numbers in the city.

The problem came to light this week when RCMP told Kelowna council that 78 per cent of the cases they sent to the Crown last year were waiting for charge approval.

The B.C. Prosecution Service responded by stating the Kelowna Crown office completes 74 percent of files received from police within 30 days.

“Either way, this brings to light the real issue: that Kelowna is growing, and our workload there is growing too,” said Kevin Marks, president of the B.C. Crown Counsel Association.

Marks added it’s important they have a properly resourced justice system to make sure criminals are arrested and prosecuted in a timely manner to protect the public.

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“We have been asking the government since 2017 for additional funding to address the understaffing issue in the Kelowna office. Our prosecutors have worked essentially without a break for more than a year.”

Marks said Crown counsel lawyers work nights and weekends to get the job done.

“They are under incredible stress, and comments implying they are somehow not doing their jobs is hurtful to our hard working members in Kelowna. It’s just not true, and more needs to be done to get to the root of the problem and provide adequate resources in the Kelowna office.”

Kelowna RCMP Supt. Kara Triance told Kelowna council this week that offences like assaults, domestic violence and uttering threats were up 25 per cent last year, and calls to deal with drug overdoses and social disorder issues also rose.

by Pete McIntyre

Call for more prosecutors in Kelowna

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