Victoria to receive dedicated hub targeting repeat shoplifters and chronic offenders

The BC government says it’s stepping up efforts to tackle repeat shoplifting, vandalism and street disorder, and Victoria is one of just a handful of communities set to receive a dedicated new intervention hub.

As part of a $16 million investment over the next two years, the Province is launching 12 new Chronic Property Offending Intervention Initiative hubs across BC, including one in Victoria.

The goal is to focus on a relatively small group of repeat offenders who police say are responsible for a significant amount of property crime in communities across the province.

Victoria is one of only four communities, alongside Vancouver, Surrey and Kelowna, that will have separate hubs dedicated to violent offenders and repeat property offenders.

The city already has a Repeat Violent Offending Intervention Initiative hub, with the new hub focusing specifically on chronic property crime.

The program targets repeat offences like shoplifting, theft, vandalism and street disorder.

It brings together police, probation officers, prosecutors, correctional staff and mental health professionals to keep a closer watch on repeat offenders while also connecting them with housing, addiction and mental health supports.

“Retail theft and street disorder undermine public safety and place added pressure on local businesses,” said Public Safety and Solicitor General Minister Nina Krieger.

“The Province is targeting chronic property offending that threatens the livelihood of small businesses, which are the backbone of our communities.”

The new initiative builds on pilot programs that launched in Nanaimo, Kelowna and Nelson last fall. According to the Province, police in Kelowna have already seen property crime trends stabilize, including fewer break and enters.

Courtenay is also among the communities receiving one of the new hubs, while Nanaimo will continue participating after serving as one of the pilot locations.

Provincewide, the new hubs are expected to supervise up to 420 repeat property offenders. Combined with the existing Repeat Violent Offending Intervention Initiative, there will be 24 hubs overseeing as many as 865 repeat offenders across BC.

The funding is part of the Province’s broader $139 million public safety investment announced in Budget 2026, which is aimed at reducing repeat offending and improving community safety.