A Victoria Police team, dedicated to youth violence and vandalism, will return downtown and maintain high visibility over the course of the next week in an attempt to deter crime.
VicPD’s Youth Violence and Vandalism Interdiction and Engagement Response Team will continue to have a heightened downtown presence in Victoria as the city deals with an increase in crimes relating to youth.
For the last six weeks, Victoria Police say that officers have been responding to calls for service for violent offences and vandalism related to large groups of youths gathering in downtown Victoria and consuming alcohol and drugs.
Police say that the gatherings have been organized by a core group via Snapchat and WhatsApp.
According to reports, these have resulted in nights in which upwards of 150 youth — split into multiple groups — have become involved in many incidents across the downtown area.
READ MORE: Following violent incidents, students say they’re paying the price for the actions of few
The incidents have included:
- A random attack in which a 70-year-old man was swarmed by a group of 25 youths. He was left with significant, but non-life-threatening facial injuries after being kicked, punched and spat on;
- A random attack on a couple who were swarmed, followed by a group of youths and a woman choked;
- A random attack on an unhoused couple that saw a youth struck in the face with a flashlight;
- The swarming of a VicPD officer as he arrested a youth armed with bear spray, knives and wearing a balaclava after he responded to a call for multiple youths engaged in a “bear spray fight”;
- A random attack on a couple, who fled to their vehicle, which was surrounded and damaged. A youth was sent to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries in this incident.
Last weekend, VicPD introduced the new Youth Violence and Vandalism Interdiction and Engagement Response Team by augmenting resources to establish a high-visibility presence at key locations in downtown Victoria.
During Friday and Saturday nights, officers responded to 12 incidents, making 8 arrests and seizing drugs, alcohol and knives. Police add that of the 8 youth arrested, three required medical care for intoxication.
During the operation, Victoria Police say that officers were approached by staff at local businesses and members of the public, who shared stories of unreported assaults and vandalism and expressed relief at the officers’ presence.
The significant majority of youths involved are from across Greater Victoria, says VicPD.
“Our presence downtown this weekend is to deter violence and ensure downtown is safe and enjoyable for everyone,” VicPD Community Services Division Inspector Kerrilee Jones said “VicPD is continuing work with our partners including all local police agencies, youth probation, the school districts from across the region including SD61, SD62 and SD63, private schools, municipalities, community groups, parents, families and youths themselves to help find short, medium and long solutions.”
Regional school districts have reached out directly to parents and caregivers to ensure that they are informed and have asked them to speak with their young family members about making safe choices downtown.
VicPD will be conducting a Live Tweetalong on our Twitter account starting at 6 p.m. tonight as part of a high-profile deterrence to violence and vandalism.
CHEK News
