Business owners and community members south of the Fraser River are increasingly calling for the RCMP to declare the rising wave of extortion-related crimes a ‘crisis’ — and for police and politicians to do something about it.

Puneet Sandhar is vice-president of the South Asian Business Association of BC. She is among the chorus of voices slamming the Mounties for failing to accurately characterize what’s going on.

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The issue first gained traction on Tuesday afternoon, when the B.C. Extortion Task Force held a news conference about extortion. Despite being pressed, Assistant Commissioner John Brewer wouldn’t use the word ‘crisis’. The following day, both Premier David Eby and a Surrey city councillor called Brewer out for his reluctance.

Brewer issued a public apology but still failed to use the word.

Sandhar is the latest to criticize the Mounties’ response.

“It was quite disappointing, because there has been a feeling that had this issue been tackled right at the get-go, this may have been nipped in the bud. The feeling was already there, ‘Why did it take so long for the authorities to take it seriously?’ And the feeling was also there that, ‘What if it was in any other community, would the reaction have been like that?’ So, when we hear comments like this… that does add fuel to those feelings.”

She describes what’s going on as “a mess,” and wonders how long it will take for this to be taken seriously.

“I don’t know what else a crisis is. Do we really have to get to that unfortunate point where somebody loses their life?”

Sandhar says some business owners are trying to hide their success to avoid becoming the next target of extortion.

“There are a lot of businesses that fear. I don’t think people have a choice of shutting down their business because it’s their livelihood, but are operating in fear. A lot of them are thinking about moving out, and I know some who have.”

“I don’t think people have a choice of shutting down their business because it’s their livelihood.”

She adds that members of the community feel a “diminished” trust in police.

“It just feels like a bit of an abandonment.”

Sandhar also wonders why, after so many cases, it feels like the task force is only now taking some action.

“I just think it came a little too late,” she said.

“And now it has spiralled so much that they’re trying their best, no doubt — it’s not in control. I do genuinely feel that some part of the responsibility goes to the fact that it really wasn’t taken that seriously to begin with.”

She isn’t happy with government either.

“We are beyond the point that different organizations or different levels of government or politicians saying, ‘We need to do something.’ Well, we elected you to do something. Who are you talking to? Who needs to do what? You’re a part of that problem as well.”

So far this year, businesses and residents in Surrey, Delta, and Abbotsford have reported dozens of extortions.

As of Jan. 19, the date of the most recent figures, Surrey Police say there have been 34 reported extortions, 21 victims (16 repeat victims), and seven extortion-related shots fired incidents in a city that’s been a hotbed for the crisis.