By The Canadian Press

Victoria city council grants police bigger budget to monitor tent city

May 21, 2016 | 12:17 PM

Victoria police will receive a $113,000 budget increase to cover the costs of monitoring the tent city set up on the courthouse lawn.

City council held a special meeting Friday and voted unanimously to take money from the city’s contingency fund to pay for police patrols of the camp.

Mayor Lisa Helps says the decision was unprecedented, but that it’s the city’s duty to protect the neighbourhood.

Insp. Scott McGregor says police requested more money after a spike in calls about the camp over the last three weeks.

Police say requests have come from residents living at the tent city and in the surrounding neighbourhood.

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The B.C. Supreme Court refused last month to grant an injunction to dismantle the camp, but Housing Minister Rich Coleman has warned another injunction could be filed if fire and safety regulations at the camp are not followed. (CFAX)

The Canadian Press