B.C. businesses calling for action to curb crime and violence

VANCOUVER — A new provincewide public safety coalition that includes community and business groups, citizens and well-known B-C retailers is set to launch today.

A statement says the coalition wants governments to work together and act quickly on crime and violence issues in communities across B-C.

The coalition statement says many people in B-C are afraid to walk their own streets, while employees fear assaults at work and businesses say they are losing revenues due to in-store thefts.

The B-C legislature has been the site of ongoing debate for more than a year over rising crime and inadequate legal measures and deterrents.