Change law to ban, evict criminals from supportive housing, outgoing VicPD chief says – BC [Video]

Victoria’s outgoing police chief is calling for more tools to prevent crime in supportive housing buildings.

It comes after a 62-year-old man was arrested in a supportive housing facility near the city’s Chinatown. Police searching the property found a kilogram of fentanyl, a loaded handgun and about $40,000 in cash.

Speaking at Victoria city council last week, Chief Del Manak suggested changes to B.C.’s Residential Tenancy Act that would proactively exclude known criminals from supportive housing facilities.

“We’re responding after the fact, when there’s a stabbing, or a major incident, or someone is exploiting individuals within a particular unit, or in a particular building. It would be great if we could get ahead of that and not allow somebody to actually get in the building in the first place,” Manak said.

“I understand the challenges around police oversight, sharing of information. But there must be a path forward, and I think it’s important …