First responders across Greater Victoria had their work cut out for them Saturday, as St. Patrick’s Day mischief was in full swing.
Victoria police said it was a busy night shift, as they attended to a total of 82 calls for service ? that ranged from an indecent act, to erratic drivers and thefts.
The numbers do not include social disorder responses that didn’t generate a call, as police were patrolling parts of Victoria.
“Officers [were] proactively patrolling Government street and talking to revelers and encouraging those who are a bit too far into the good spirits to call it an evening,” said a spokesperson from Victoria police.
Saanich police took six impaired drivers off the road, posing on social media that “Maybe those 6 drivers didn’t think green beer counted.”.
“The number of drivers we encountered at that roadblock that were impaired was surprising,” said Staff Seargent Andy Walsh of the Saanich police . “The night shift officers certainly found that there was a lot of volume of traffic and that there were a lot of people out.”
The roadblock was set up on the Trans Canada Highway near Tillicum road.
B.C. Emergency Health Services responded to a total of 104 calls in Greater Victoria from 12 p.m. to midnight yesterday.
The Saanich Fire Department also said it was a busier night than normal.
“It was a Saturday night, which coincided with, of course, St. Patrick’s Day this year,” said station captain Dale Peebles. “I would say that probably contributed to a slight increase.”
File photo
Julian Kolsut
