VANCOUVER (CBC) - The B.C. government is giving Vancouver police $40,000 to help send alleged criminals who are roaming city streets back to the provinces where they are wanted.

Solicitor General John Les announced Wednesday that the grant, from the province's Civil Forfeiture Office, is enough to send as many as 30 people back to face charges under a Vancouver Police Department initiative called the Con Air project.

The VPD began the pilot project in January to track down and ship back people who are wanted for crimes they are accused of committing in other parts of Canada. The suspects are wanted on what are known as non-returnable warrants. With such warrants, the issuing jurisdiction is not willing to pay the transportation costs involved in returning the suspects for prosecution.

"It is about supporting the appropriate administration of justice," Les said of the provincial grant for Con Air.

"Every time we send one of these people back to face charges that have been alleged, I think we support justice and we can reduce the victimization of people in our own communities right here in British Columbia."

As many as 2,500 people in Vancouver are on the VPD's list, police had said.

Police Chief Jim Chu said Wednesday they are collecting signatures for a petition asking for changes for the Criminal Code of Canada to make fleeing a warrant a criminal offence.

Chu said accused criminals are walking the streets of Vancouver and thumbing their noses at the justice system.

Les said he agreed that the justice system is broken and needs to be fixed.

Les added he will ensure the initiative by the VPD will not lack resources although the province is not looking for federal funding at this point.

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