Almost one quarter of the 383,000 rounds of ammunition B.C. law enforcement wants for 2022-23 would go to the province’s New Westminster-based law enforcement training centre, government documents show.
In a statement to Glacier Media, the Ministry of Attorney General said the procurement exercise is for the BC Sheriff Service (BCSS).
“The cost will depend on the procurement exercise results,” a ministry spokesperson said April 11. “As the procurement bid is currently open and active, it would be inappropriate for the ministry to comment further. The requisition number has generally remained the same over the years, with some minor fluctuations.”
The Justice Institute of British Columbia (JIBC) wants 100,000 rounds of 9mm factory loaded, 9mm practice rounds. They need to be lead and toxic metal primer-free. They also need to be frangible — meaning they shatter on impact with hard surfaces.
They would be for use at the institute’s indoor range.
The remaining 9mm ammunition is not frangible but 243,000 of those rounds are also for practice while 35,000 rounds are for duty use.
Of the 243,000, 24,000 would go to the North, 32,000 to the Interior, 32,000 to Vancouver Island and 155,000 to the Lower Mainland.
Of the 35,000 duty rounds, 3,000 are for the North, 4,000 each for the Interior and Island, 19,000 for the Lower Mainland and 5,000 for the institute.
The duty rounds must be a hollow-point design, factory loaded, with a weight of no less than 147 grains and for a muzzle velocity of 290 metres per second to 396 metres per second.
Sheriffs provide security services to the province’s courts as well as planning for and staffing high-security trials at all levels of court.
At the B.C. Supreme Court level, BCSS oversees jury administration and selection process for criminal and civil trials. It also supplies protection services and jury administration for coroner inquests.
BCSS also offers security services to various other agencies requiring its expertise. This may include public commissions or public hearings requiring the protection of attendees due to security concerns.
The JIBC did not respond to requests for comment.
