[murd0c]

Police on alert for gang violence at PNE New Year's party - News1130

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - Vancouver Police want people heading to the New Year's Eve PNE Dance Party to be aware of a heightened chance of gang violence.

Up to 6,000 are expected to pack the party at the Pacific Coliseum, which runs from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m.

Const. Jana McGuinness with the VPD says extra cops will be on hand inside and outside the rink on Renfrew to keep the peace as Tiësto DJs the party.

"So when we receive information through our police channels that there is, maybe, rising tensions or something that could possibly occur, we're going to err on the side of caution and make sure people are at least aware that we're going to be increasing our presence."

The PNE's Laura Ballance says they have 120 security staff on hand and they will be searching bags.

"And that was part of our standard procedure that we put on as part of this event plan," she says.

Vancouver police also say dozens of extra officers will be on patrol in the rest of the city as revelers ring in 2012.

That includes along the Granville entertainment district and Gastown, two of the areas popular with partiers.

To help make things safer, two blocks of Granville Street will be turned into a pedestrian-only zone New Years Eve to accommodate the large crowds expected there.

-With files from The Canadian Press