2012-01-17 

Vancouver police recommend charges for 20 more people in riots

Vancouver police have recommended charges against 20 more people suspected of taking part in the June 15 riot, raising the total number to 100.

Police announced the latest charge recommendations during a news conference Tuesday.

In B.C., police must forward charge recommendations to the Crown for approval. The Crown has approved and laid charges against 30 people accused of participating in the riot so far. One person has entered a guilty plea.

The Vancouver police has been much criticized for the pace of its investigation. The force did not forward its first major batch of case files to the Crown until Oct. 31 – four and a half months after the Stanley Cup riot that caused millions of dollars in damage.

Of the 100 suspected rioters, 18 per cent are from Vancouver, 26 per cent are from Surrey and 17 per cent are from Burnaby.

Twenty of the 100 suspects are young offenders.