Williams Lake rejects jail closure idea, seeks government support on repeat crime
Council will seek provincial and federal help after a report said closing the jail would not change bail outcomes and could raise city costs.
- On Tuesday, June 9, 2026, Williams Lake City Council voted against closing the municipal jail, choosing instead to petition senior government regarding repeat offending and street disorder concerns.
- Coun. Scott Nelson had requested staff examine closing the facility to transport offenders, but Director of Protective Services Evan Dean reported the city lacks authority over the provincially leased building.
- Dean noted that ceasing guard services would violate the Police Act and Municipal Police Unit Agreement , while likely increasing costs as the RCMP would reassign members to guard duties.
- Mayor Surinderpal Rathor announced an emergency public meeting tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, July 15, inviting Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Lorne Doerkson and Cariboo-Prince George MP Todd Doherty to address street disorder.
- Tensions surfaced as Coun. Michael Moses and Coun. Flaspohler criticized pursuing unachievable solutions, arguing such motions harm the city's professional reputation and distract from effective government advocacy.
8 Articles
8 Articles
Williams Lake rejects jail closure idea, seeks government support on repeat crime - Fort St. James Caledonia Courier
Williams Lake City Council intends to correspond with senior levels of government regarding repeat offenders and the operational feasibility of its municipal jail cells, following a detailed report confirming that the city cannot close the jail or restrict its use, and that the only viable action would be to withdraw guarding services. At a Tuesday, June 9, regular council meeting, three options were weighed following a previously adopted resolu…
Williams Lake rejects jail closure idea, seeks government support on repeat crime - Grand Forks Gazette
Williams Lake City Council intends to correspond with senior levels of government regarding repeat offenders and the operational feasibility of its municipal jail cells, following a detailed report confirming that the city cannot close the jail or restrict its use, and that the only viable action would be to withdraw guarding services. At a Tuesday, June 9, regular council meeting, three options were weighed following a previously adopted resolu…
Vernon Morning Star
Williams Lake rejects jail closure idea, seeks government support on repeat crime
Williams Lake City Council intends to correspond with senior levels of government regarding repeat offenders and the operational feasibility of its municipal jail cells, following a detailed report confirming that the city cannot close the jail or restrict its use, and that the only viable action would be to withdraw guarding services. At a Tuesday, June 9, regular council meeting, three options were weighed following a previously adopted resolu…
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