Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim is urging immediate action from provincial and federal governments following two alarming assaults in the city. The incidents have raised serious concerns about public safety in busy areas.

The first incident involved Peterhans Nungu, 34, who was arrested and charged with assault causing bodily harm after an attack in Coal Harbour on April 15. Nungu was granted bail and released from police custody on April 23. However, he was transferred to a secure medical facility for supervision. Recently, he was released from that facility and is now under house arrest in Vancouver.

In a separate case, Ronald Hartley Duckhorn, 35, a convicted sex offender, was arrested after a woman was attacked, robbed, and sexually assaulted in a Stanley Park bathroom on Monday. The charges against Duckhorn have not yet been proven in court, and he is scheduled to appear in Vancouver provincial court on May 23.

Following these incidents, Mayor Sim expressed frustration with the judicial system. "Law enforcement agencies have done their job in identifying suspects and making arrests, but the judicial system is repeatedly letting victims down by allowing those with a high risk to reoffend back into the public," he stated. Sim is demanding answers from Attorney General Niki Sharma regarding the ongoing issues with repeat offenders.

In an interview, Sharma acknowledged the need for changes to the Criminal Code to address the challenges posed by repeat offenders. She emphasized that the province is advocating for federal changes to improve the situation. "Bail reform is completely essential when it comes to improving public safety across B.C.," she said.

Recent changes to the Criminal Code, effective in 2024, aim to make it more difficult for individuals accused of violent crimes to be released if they have a history of serious offenses involving weapons or intimate partner violence. However, criminologist Amanda McCormick noted that the slow pace of the justice system makes it hard to assess the impact of these changes on public safety. "These days, we're seeing it takes a year, a couple of years, depending on the nature of the offense, before these cases go before court, so we just don't have that data at this point," she explained.

In 2023, British Columbia launched the Repeat Violent Offending Intervention Initiative, which aims to connect repeat offenders with services to help break the cycle of violence. Despite these efforts, Sharma believes stronger laws are necessary. She plans to present new ideas to the federal government but did not disclose specific proposals.

A spokesperson for the federal Department of Justice stated that the government is committed to enhancing bail reforms for repeat offenders, but emphasized the need for cooperation from provincial authorities. They also highlighted that underfunding in the justice system is compromising public safety and delaying trials.