Quick Escape. The City of Vancouver manages many booking requests for events each year, many of which require VPD resources to manage safely. On average, the VPD deals with approximately events each year. These events are staffed by officers working overtime, which is paid for by the organizers, productions, and businesses.
The VPD also provides resources to numerous demonstrations and protests, when needed. Protests fall under a separate category than events, and those specific details, as well as contact information, are listed further down this page.
If you are planning an event, you begin by submitting an application to City Hall. You will find all the information you need in their Special Event Permitting Handbook.
Once your event has been approved, a police planner from our Operational Planning Unit will arrange the necessary police resources and create a policing plan for the event. The VPD Emergency Operations and Planning Section is responsible for planning and staffing any events that are outside regular policing services and resources.
This includes special municipal police officers that may be needed for traffic control. We need a minimum of two business days for requests, and a minimum of 30 days for major events. Changes in legislation, legal requirements, risk management, accountability, worldwide events, and complex social issues have made policing in Vancouver more challenging in recent years.
