Mass arrests at Ezra gathering 'counterproductive' from public health perspective: Larkin

There's "no magic wand" to end the Ezra Avenue unsanctioned street gathering that take place each St. Patrick's Day in Waterloo, says police Chief Bryan Larkin.

The Waterloo Regional Police Service has planned to have a large officer presence on the street on Tuesday, and they'll be putting up fencing and billboards telling students not to gather on the street.

In the past, thousands of young people have made the street a sea of green as they've crowded together to drink and party.

Each year, the gathering attracts more and more people. Last year, an estimated 33,000 people attended.

This year, there's an increase in calls to shut down the party because of concerns over the spread of the coronavirus. Public health has called for no gatherings larger than 250 people, but no one organizes the unsanctioned gathering, so there's no one to ask to shut it down, Larkin said.

'I understand people's fears'

Larkin said police are following the recommendations made by a task force that was set up to look at unsanctioned street gatherings and how to put an end to them in the city. 

Officers arrest people and ticket people every year, but they can't be heavy-handed, he said.

"We have reasonable citizens that we're dealing with and so ... to arrest people, you have to have a lawful reason. It has to be within the [Canadian] Charter [of Rights and Freedom]. It has to be within the Constitution," he said.

"I understand people's fears and getting all of the messages saying you know, 'Use force, throw them in the paddy wagon.'"

Larkin said all courts will now be closed for several weeks.

"They're encouraging police to look at different release mechanisms and so mass arrests from a public health perspective is actually also counterproductive," Larkin said.

Listen to the whole interview: