Victim services gets almost $60K

Photo: Deborah Pfeiffer

The Penticton council has approved the victim service and crime prevention transfer under agreement for 2013 to 2014.

The victim services program is handled by the administration manager at the RCMP office in Penticton and provides comfort and support to victims of various crimes.

Acting Mayor Garry Litke stressed the importance of the program in the community.

“We have people in the community at risk for some reason or another and they need  support services  to help them get through crisis times,” he said.

The program has increased in importance in recent years, as the Penticton RCMP  has been challenged with a number of high profile files involving violent crime.

Among the crimes are sexual assault, domestic violence and break and enters.

The total budget for the program is $121,854. The province reimburses the city $62,370 and the city is responsible for $59,484. It provides $34,717 as cash and $24,767 in kind.

The city has supported the program for many years, as it has been deemed to be an essential and valued support system.