The New TPS Anti-Gathering Teams Dished Out Around 160 Charges On Their First Weekend
"Too many people — mostly adults — are having parties."
Some Toronto Police officers had a busy weekend handing out charges to people participating in "noisy parties" across the city.
According to a press release published on Monday, Toronto Police's 16 new "dedicated enforcement teams" attended around 210 large gatherings from Thursday to Monday and dished out approximately 160 charges to people not following the stay-at-home order rules.
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On Wednesday, April 21, TPS announced it was launching new teams across the city to focus on stopping large gatherings — this past weekend, they were first put into action.
Over half of the 210 large gatherings they visited were indoors, police say, and they also handed out eight charges for offences including obstructing an officer and assault.
"While I want to thank the vast majority of residents who are respecting the law, too many people — mostly adults — are having parties and hosting large gatherings in Toronto every day and night. It has to stop," TPS Chief James Ramer wrote in a statement.