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Spoonful of sugar or strong medicine: ‘Meet and Greet’ as a strategy for policing large-scale public events

ABSTRACT Recognising that the police response may have a significant impact on the type of behaviour displayed by the crowd has prompted many police departments to adopt less obtrusive approaches to crowd management. Low-profile, negotiation-based public-order policing strategies have been used successfully in low-risk crowd situations. However, it remains unclear as to whether or not this style of policing can be effectively applied in more high-risk environments. Focusing on the 2011 Stanley Cup Riot as a case study, this research provides valuable insight into a situation in which the low-profile policing strategy was perceived to have failed. Surveying members of the Vancouver Police Department (VPD), the findings highlight what the police perceive to be the strengths and limitations of, as well as the potential consequences for implementing a low-profile policing strategy. Based on this police perspective, this article will provide information useful for helping the VPD, and other police departments, improve future crowd management efforts.