Article content continued
Doucette said due to the nature of the crowd and “a number of factors on Halloween night, physically attempting to disperse the alcohol-fuelled crowd or issue tickets wasn’t appropriate.”
“Our response has to be reasonable and proportionate to what we’re faced with at the time,” he said. “Although there were a number of occasions where the police were met with hostility from the crowd, our officers maintained a professional and balanced approach.”
Doucette said there were a number of arrests for minor offences such as causing a disturbance. There were no injuries recorded.
One Reddit user posted to the /r/vancouver subreddit on Saturday evening to ask, “what the absolute f–k, Vancouver.”
“I’m sitting here at my bar after arguing with people all night long about ‘stupid COVID regulations’, trying to get people to sit down, separating large groups and breaking up a fight. Granville has a throng of people on it dancing out the sunroofs of their cars, stopping traffic,” the Reddit user wrote.
“Zero bylaws. Zero cops. Zero f–k given by these people. Zero enforcement and we’re shocked cases are rising.
“I quit. Health is more important that a job. But holy f–k can we not do any better than a dance party in the street at midnight.”
