Security Sety to Deal with Olympic Protesters

Security set to deal with Oly protests
Cops say they will 'ramp up' forces if necessary

Damian Inwood
The Province

Tuesday, February 09, 2010

Hockey mom Theresa Watts carries the Olympic torch just after
leaving the Langley Events Centre on Monday.
CREDIT: Ian Smith, PNG

Olympic security police say they won't hesitate to "ramp up" their
forces at a moment's notice to deal with illegal protests when an
anti-Games rally heads for B.C. Place Stadium on Friday.

"We're not going to stand by and wait until things get out of hand,"
said Staff-Sgt. Mike Cote, spokesman for the RCMP's Vancouver 2010
Integrated Security Unit. "We'll have to wait and see what we're
confronted with."

Protesters plan to rally at 3 p.m. at the Vancouver Art Gallery
before heading to B.C. Place, where the Olympic opening ceremonies
begin at 6 p.m. If protesters try to block intersections, as they
did in Victoria in October, at the start of the relay, a decision
will be made how to deal with them, he said.

"It will be up to the security commander on the ground to decide
whether to stop or divert the ultimate route [of the protest
march]," said Cote. "We're confident things will go well, but we're
prepared to deal with them if they don't."

By some estimates, between 1,000 and 1,500 protesters may take part
in the rally.

Police refused to say whether officers will be wearing riot gear or
if riot police will be mustered nearby for deployment if the protest
gets out of control.

At 2 p.m., an hour before the protest rally starts, the torch-relay
flame will disappear from sight in a miner's lamp.

It will be lit from the last relay community cauldron at the Four
First Nations pavilion at Hamilton and Georgia streets.

"That will be the final time the Olympic flame will be in public
view before the opening ceremonies," said Suzanne Reeves,
torch-relay communication director.

Reeves said it will next be seen inside B.C. Place, which will be
protected by heavy security, and that no torch runner would actually
carry the torch into the building.

Vancouver 2010 CEO John Furlong said he's not worried about
disruptions on the final days of the torch relay or the opening
ceremonies.

"Obviously, we hope for a fantastic closing celebration [for the
torch relay]," he said. "We've had great success along the route. If
people make it to the side of the road to express their view, we
trust they'll do it in a traditional, Canadian way -- respectfully."

As to the protest rally to B.C. Place, he said police "will do
what's necessary to make sure people can get to the stadium to enjoy
the experience that they've waited over a decade for."

"I know that people that are working to secure the Games will make
sure it will all happen the way it should," Furlong added. "We
expect Friday to go off well and, if we have a few challenges,
they'll be managed professionally and the best way that we can."

dinwood@theprovince.com