File photo/RCMP

By Vernon Matters Staff

repeat offenders

More money for cops to target repeat violent offenders

Jun 20, 2025 | 12:58 PM

The province is upping funding for a special police program that specifically targets repeat violent offenders.

The extra $6-million brings the total investment into the Special Investigation and Targeted Enforcement (SITE) program to $17-million.

Money gets used for surveillance and investigations of known perpetrators as in a recent joint operation by Kelowna and Lake Country RCMP.

Multiple charges were the result along with a decrease in activity at that location.

Garry Begg, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General said the new money builds on the program as a critical initiative that is helping police departments target repeat violent offenders and disrupt the cycle of crime.

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“With the help of our SITE funding, police have had a number of successes in targeting repeat violent offenders and have recommended 2,676 charges, thanks to the program,” Begg said. “We are ensuring SITE remains available to help police agencies expand their abilities to crack down on repeat violent crime more effectively and keep dangerous people off our streets.”

The local example of the SITE activity involved three projects worth more than $216,000 that was used to support a joint Lake Country and Kelowna RCMP operation targeting a violent offender’s property.

Surveillance led to investigations into various property crime offenders and drug traffickers, resulting in recovered stolen vehicles and the seizure of drugs (meth, cocaine, fentanyl) and weapons, including 20 firearms, ammunition and a live grenade.

Twenty-two people were investigated during this time, of whom five individuals were charged with 16 offences. Since the search warrant was enforced, there was a notable decrease in activity at the residence and the surrounding area.