SURREY - In the midst of both an uptick in crime and an effort to establish a new city police force, Surrey RCMP is showcasing two new youth programs to mark National Crime Prevention Week.

The detachment hosted a Public Safety Fair at Ecole Salish Secondary School in Cloverdale on Saturday.

Officers hosted mini-presentations on “Shattering the Image” and “Project Lavender.” The new programming focuses on gang-prevention and building resiliency in youth.

Shattering the Image was inspired by the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit’s End Gang Life program. It was developed to address the need for gang-related information that was specific to Surrey.

The program is designed to – as the name implies – shatter the glamourized image of gangs, as well as to provide young people with valuable information on making positive choices to avoid gang lifestyle.

“It's the second module of that anti-gang presentation that focuses on mentorship and leadership,” said Const. Richard Wright of the Surrey RCMP.

Project Lavender aims to empower young women and girls to make positive choices and surround themselves with healthy relationships.

The program covers topics like sexting, sexual exploitation, drug and alcohol awareness and the importance of healthy relationships.

"We took their suggestions. We custom built this program around what they wanted to see,” Wright said.

Both initiatives got a thumbs up from attendees at the Public Safety fair, but there were concerns these efforts could disappear along with the RCMP in the transition to a municipal force.

"It would be terrible to give away all those resources that we have right now federally,” said Allan Hawley, a Surrey resident who attended the event.

"And programs that they've already started,” added Heather Hawley, his wife.

Surrey city councillor Linda Annis said the programs showcased at the fair are "absolutely critical."

"If we can get to youth before they get involved in gang activities we will reduce a lot of violent crime,” Annis said.

The event comes just days after the Surrey RCMP released its crime stats for the third quarter of 2019. The statistics showed an uptick in violent crime since the previous quarter, except sexual offences. Homicides were up 67 per cent – from three in Q2 to five in Q3 – and the number of attempted murders increased 167 per cent – from three to eight. RCMP say violent crime has actually decreased over the last decade.

There was also a 10 per cent increase in property crime, and the number of criminal code offences rose 6 per cent between July and September than in the previous three months.

"The transition is a long way from happening and quite frankly, I think we should be looking at the policing model not just changing the badges," Annis said. "The RCMP needs more members."

Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum has been criticized for putting a hiring freeze on new police officers. City councillors have said that the city is more than 50 officers short of hiring commitments made in 2016. Surrey's top cop says the transition period has been challenge.

"Rest assured that our commitment, dedication and our pride is unwavering,” said Assistant Commissioner Dwayne McDonald, the commanding officer of the Surrey RCMP.

Saturday’s Public Safety Fair could be one of the last for Surrey RCMP. That’s because McCallum's proposed Surrey Police Force, which would replace the current RCMP force, is expected to launch in the spring of 2021.

The province approved the plan to establish a municipal force back in August, and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth tasked former Attorney General Wally Oppal with chairing a joint municipal-provincial committee to manage the transition.