Underage drinking and increased violence and gang activity in Centennial Square adjacent to Victoria City Hall are becoming a concern, Police Chief Del Manak says.
“We’re dealing continually with more and more youth that are coming from all over the region that love Centennial Square right outside here,” Manak told councillors Thursday.
While traditionally a hangout for drinking alcohol, Centennial Square has generally been peaceful, Manak said. But of late, that has changed as it becomes a destination for youths from around the region. With those youths has come an increase in violence, the chief said.
Some members of a local gang known to use violence have been seen in the square, he said.
“This is notable, as there is a concern that gang members may try to recruit younger teens into their gang.”
At times, more than 200 people congregate in the square late at night, Manak said. “We want to make sure that they are safe.
“I think it’s great … if youth want to come out and they want to come downtown and they want to behave themselves. The challenge is when they form pockets and groups and are challenging one another — whether it’s for territory or alcohol gets involved.”
The department says it received 168 calls for service at Centennial Square in March and April. The two-month stretch marked the highest number of calls to the square since 2015.
“When different groups and factions get together, it sometimes leads to fights and assaults and whatnot,” Manak said. In March, police responded to an assault with a weapon in the square.
“In this particular incident, there was a large crowd of about 30 kids. Unfortunately, a couple of them had knives and hatchets, and when they start fighting and there’s alcohol involved, it can obviously lead to a lot of risk for the community.”
Centennial Square is now a priority for the department, he said, which means ensuring there’s a police presence in the area and that those who use the square understand what behaviour is acceptable.
“It’s finding that kind of balanced approach, but ensuring that we certainly don’t want to see stabbings and serious assaults where we’re responding after the fact,” Manak said.
“We’re trying to do what we can to be preventative on the front end.”
