‘Crisis levels’: SkyTrain workers union wants help dealing with violence on system | 24CA News
The union that represents Metro Vancouver SkyTrain staff is asking on each municipal and provincial governments for assist, amid a current rash of violent incidents.
“As transit workers, we are deeply disturbed by the horrific events that have occurred in our Lower Mainland transit system recently, and our hearts go out to all the families and victims of the violence,” mentioned Tony Rebelo, CUPE 7000’s president.
“The increase in violence on public transit is reaching crisis levels, and our members do not have the training and tools to deal with violent offenders.”
On Saturday, a person was despatched to hospital after he was stabbed within the abdomen space at Surrey Central’s SkyTrain Station. Last Sunday, a person was arrested in Burnaby after reportedly assaulting and making an attempt to slash individuals with a knife.
There had been additionally two stabbing incidents not too long ago on Surrey transit buses, one in all which led to the dying of 17-year-old Ethan Bespflug.
“We continue to work with SkyTrain management on actions to protect our members and the travelling public, but we can’t do it alone,” Rebelo mentioned.
“I am imploring local and provincial governments to create a plan to deter and mitigate these senseless acts of violence and keep our members and the public safe.”
On Sunday, Surrey’s Mayor Brenda Locke issued an announcement relating to the current string of transit violence.
She mentioned the City of Surrey is working with the RCMP and Metro Vancouver Transit Police to search out methods to mitigate the regarding violence.
“We are looking at a range of sustainable, long-term solutions to ensure everyone in transit is safe. This includes the high-visibility police patrols occurring now, however, that is only part of the solution,” Locke mentioned.
“We need to look at all potential tools at our disposal, including better use of technology, safety education, and outreach, all forming part of a comprehensive approach.”
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On Friday, the pinnacle of TransLink held a press convention saying he won’t stand for the current violence and vowed to take motion with the police and authorities.
CEO Kevin Quinn supplied his condolences to the household Bespflug, the teenager who was stabbed to dying on a Surrey bus on Tuesday, and famous that his personal two youngsters take public transit day by day.
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“I’m angry. We’re really angry. We’re very frustrated,” he mentioned. “The fact is that we will not stand for these types of incidents on our system. We will not allow criminals or those who want to commit crimes to come on to our system. This is our system.”
Metro Vancouver Transit Police have elevated their presence on buses and SkyTrains and assigned officers usually tasked with different duties to patrol the routes as effectively.
Another 24 neighborhood security cops shall be added to the patrol roster as effectively, Quinn mentioned. They shall be skilled in methods to de-escalate psychological well being incidents, he added.
“You have my assurance that we are doing everything we can, in coordinating with our local, our municipal, our provincial authorities to make our systems safe, and will continue to explore ways to make our systems safe,” Quinn mentioned.
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At the SpeedyBus announcement, B.C. Transportation Minister Rob Fleming mentioned the “sad and unacceptable” occasions of the previous week are usually not a mirrored image of the transit system, however of the “unacceptable levels of violence in society.”
“This is a bigger issue that governments like ours and governments across the country are trying to address through a variety of interventions around mental health, addictions, a more effective public safety system,” he mentioned.
“We’re working with Ottawa right now on the sentencing gap that has allowed too many repeat offenders to be out, in some cases within hours of being charged with quite serious and significant crimes.”
Fleming mentioned he’s working with a number of unions representing public transit staff in B.C. and has made a dedication to taking “additional steps.” He didn’t elaborate on what these steps are.
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