Vancouver police will continue to have a large presence during home games as Round 2 of the Stanley Cup playoffs begins Wednesday evening at Rogers Arena.
鈥淲e couldn鈥檛 be prouder of the Canuck fans. We couldn鈥檛 be prouder of the behaviour that they have shown in all the games so far. The majority of people are celebrating safely and responsibly,鈥� Const. Tania Visintin said during a joint Vancouver Police Department and Metro Vancouver Transit Police news conference Wednesday morning (May 8).
Visintin said Vancouver officers issued between 20 and 30 tickets for misbehaviour tied to each home game in the first round against the Nashville Predators. There were three home games. She said tickets included liquor offences, disorder and rowdy behaviour.
鈥淭hat type of behaviour, it really just ruins it for all fans that are trying to enjoy it, especially the families that are there.鈥�
Visintin reminded people to either consume alcohol at home or at a licensed location.
鈥淲e鈥檝e seen from the past that public intoxication also contributes to very rowdy, risky behaviour, like climbing statues, fights, a lot more violent (behaviour). This behaviour is dangerous, incites a crowd and contributes to further disorder.鈥�
It鈥檚 been nearly 13 years since riots broke out in downtown Vancouver after the Canucks lost to the Boston Bruins in Game 7 in the Stanley Cup finals. There were also riots when the Canucks lost in 1994, also in Game 7.
Rylan Simpson, assistant professor with Simon Fraser University鈥檚 School of Criminology, said events like these 鈥渁ll involve a balance of risk.鈥� He said collaboration is important, and it鈥檚 up to the city, police and other stakeholders to manage that risk.
鈥淚 think it just was a matter of how each individual person interprets both their role at the event, whether they鈥檙e there, for example, to have a fun and family friendly viewing of the Canucks game, or whether they鈥檙e there to potentially elicit trouble.鈥�
But Simpson said it comes down to policing style, and what he鈥檚 seen so far this season is very positive messaging about what their role is in managing the gatherings.
鈥淲e鈥檙e seeing communication from the police that the purpose of police presence is to provide a feeling of safety, to be a point of contact for anyone in need of assistance, as well as provide an opportunity for almost a meet-and-greet with officers to take photographs and to engage in dialogue that would try to bolster a positive atmosphere, while simultaneously maintaining safety at these gatherings.鈥�
He said it鈥檚 also a reflection of what the public expects from police in a contemporary era 鈥� and high-visibility vests can be one type of intervention to help.
鈥淎 high visibility vest on that officer, the public tends to perceive them as more approachable, more friendly, more respectful, more accountable, less aggressive.
The Vancouver Canucks will be hosting the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday and Friday before heading to Edmonton on Sunday and Tuesday.
READ MORE:
The City of Vancouver announced round two viewing events, but not until Sunday鈥檚 away game. At Oak Meadows Park, in the north end of Oak Street and W 37th Avenue, a viewing area will be set up to accommodate 2,000 people. Select community centres across the city will also show the game in their lobbies to give people a chance to gather with their neighbours.
Visintin said Vancouver police support the smaller, neighbourhood viewing areas, which are 鈥渕ore conducive to maintaining public safety.鈥�
鈥淲e know these large, fan-based zones in the downtown core, it just wouldn鈥檛 work. It hasn鈥檛 worked in the past, and it won鈥檛 work this time.鈥�
