Solicitor general plans talks on Lower Mainland police force

Solicitor General John Les now says he is ready to talk about a regional police force for Metro Vancouver.

Two weeks ago, Les played down the idea after a spate of gangland killings in the Lower Mainland touched off a debate about merging police forces.

At the time, Les described the whole issue of regional policing as "a bit of a red herring." He even chastised West Vancouver police Chief Kash Heed for raising the idea in a newspaper column.

But on Tuesday, Les said he plans to discuss the idea with police chiefs and municipal officials within two months.

"If some perceive there are further improvements required, then I'm interested in having that discussion," Les said.

"I'm going to be getting together, or trying to get together, with all the people who need to be part of that discussion. Those are police chiefs, police boards' chairs, mayors."

NDP MLA Mike Farnworth said the minister has become known for his policy flop-flops.

"If public safety wasn't such a serious issue, it would be humorous, but the public expects leadership and they're not getting it," Farnworth said.

On Monday, Les reversed his previous stance on another policing issue when he announced a public inquiry into the death of Robert Dziekanski at Vancouver airport in October.

Previously Les had said that there was no need for a public inquiry into the incident.

The ministersaid he hasn't changed his mind about regional policing. He said he's always been open to having a discussion about regional policing and now it's going ahead.