Tuesday April 21, 2026 | LANGFORD, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
City of Langford decision-making about their 2026 budget and 2026-2030 financial plan included approval for the hiring of four additional RCMP officers for the West Shore RCMP detachment.
But two of those hires will be held back while a more extensive public engagement on public safety is carried out through the summer. This is part of ensuring that precious taxpayer dollars are being spent appropriately and wisely.
Generally speaking, previous policing staff expansion has been based on ‘cop per pop’ (proportionately increasing the number of police officers along with increasing population numbers). But the decision on police hiring is more nuanced than that, is the view of Langford council.
Staff advised council at a recent council meeting that perhaps some results of summer engagement could be ready by early fall.
The Working Groups will include the appropriately affected community partners and report back to Council with actionable recommendations within a four-to-six-month timeline, no later than October 2026.
The next municipal election is coming up October 17, 2026.
Waiting on recommendations:
The remaining funding for the two yet-authorized hiring of two additional RCMP officers will be held in abeyance and distributed or released only upon further direction of Council following the receipt of recommendations from the Community Safety Working Groups.
Working groups:
The three working groups will be led by either City staff or RCMP representatives. That flexibility could impact the manner and ultimate content of the engagement results.
The working groups will focus on:
- Property Crime
- The Unhoused
- Improving safety in parks, trails and downtown
The working groups are to be asked with identifying proactive, interventions within the municipality’s domain to reduce crime and anti-social behavior (including but not limited to public intoxication, littering, and disturbances).
Five municipalities:
It should be noted that the West Shore RCMP serves five municipalities, of which Langford is only one. The other four municipalities are Colwood, View Royal, Metchosin and Highlands.
===== RELATED:
- Langford hosts consultant-led info session on policing & public safety (December 12, 2026)
- NEWS SECTIONS: LANGFORD | WEST SHORE RCMP | WEST SHORE LOCAL