Vancouver police to increase presence in downtown core for NYE

Police in Vancouver are expecting thousands of people to be ringing in the New Year downtown tonight.

Sgt. Steve Addison with the Vancouver Police Department says officers will be highly visible in the downtown core to mediate any conflicts that could arise.

“Anytime we see large numbers of people come into the city and congregate in places like Granville Street, there do tend to be conflicts and public safety challenges that arise, and that’s exactly why we’re deploying extra police officers,” he said.

Addison says the VPD isn’t expecting any major security issues, adding that last year’s celebrations went off fairly smoothly.

He says there will be multiple road blocks set up in various locations throughout the city to catch impaired drivers.

To ensure the safety of yourself and those around you, Addison says it’s key to plan ahead and know how you’re getting home before leaving for the night.

“Our role is to help people have a good time and be safe, so people can ring out 2023 and bring in 2024, and do it in an environment where they feel safe and secure.”