Vancouver police were prepared for the tens of thousands of people who crowded downtown to watch the Celebration of Light fireworks on Saturday night.
Const. Lindsey Houghton said that the first major public event since the Stanley Cup riot was a positive and friendly family-oriented event.
Police beefed up security for the event 25 to 30 per cent compared to previous years. An extra 75 officers were brought in from across metro Vancouver as well as a civilian force of 150 volunteers.
Police said there were 605 liquor pour outs, almost double last year's amount, four arrests for public intoxication, 28 liquor seizures and 10 drug seizures.
The most serious offence was a minor stabbing in the 700-block of Thurlow Street, in which two people suffered superficial wounds. Police also seized 13 weapons, up from three last year, including three brass knuckles, eight cans of pepper spray, three knives and an ice pick.
Police said that the increase in pour outs and seizures is not necessarily because the crowd this year was worse behaved, but because there were more officers out looking.
