The British Columbia RCMP will lead a specialized task force to improve the province’s response to extortion threats targeting the South Asian community.
B.C. Public Safety Minister Nina Krieger said Wednesday the new task force will bring together existing operations and new police partners under a single command structure.
“This comprehensive approach will expand cross-jurisdictional reach, supporting co-ordinated investigations to bring criminals threatening and perpetrating violence in our communities to justice,” she said.
Her ministry said the extortion task force will consist of 40 members drawn from various policing agencies, including B.C’s Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit and Canada Border Services Agency.
It will be supported by the federal RCMP National Co-ordination and Support Team, which shares information on extortion cases with law-enforcement agencies in affected provinces, including B.C., Alberta and Ontario.
“This dedicated and expanded team brings in additional resources, intelligence and tactical skills from multiple law-enforcement agencies, with the common goals of protecting our communities from these extortions, while pursuing and holding those responsible for the violence, intimidation and fear accountable,” said John Brewer, B.C. RCMP assistant commissioner.
The province is also making $200,000 available through the federal government’s Gun and Gang Violence Action Fund to help municipal police departments investigate extortion cases.
Police departments across the country have seen rising cases of South Asian individuals or businesses being contacted with demands for money and threatened with violence if they refused to pay.
The Lower Mainland, and Surrey in particular, has been a hot bed for the issue in B.C.
Surrey Police this week launched a $250,000 reward fund and tip line for key information on extortion crimes.
B.C. said another $100,000 from the federal fund will go toward an ongoing B.C. Crime Stoppers public-awareness campaign encouraging people to report extortion threats.
The campaign features radio, digital-media and SkyTrain advertisements in English and Punjabi.
The province said police have reported an increase in phone calls related to extortion attempts since the campaign kicked off on June 25.
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