All police on call for Peas concert

Charlottetown's entire police force will bedeployed or on call for the Black Eyed Peas concert on Sept. 3, with more than 100 officers and guards posted at the venue alone, city officials say.

Fire and ambulance service will also be on hand when an estimated 20,000 fans descend onthe Charlottetown Driving Park, Charlottetown council said at a meeting to brief the public on security plansTuesday night.

But some people who live near the concert venue complained that the plans aren't sufficient.

"Nobody came around to ask anybody what they felt about this concert," said Joanne MacLeod, who lives across the street from the CDP and was one of more than 50 people whoattended the meeting.

"It looks like just because the Barenaked Ladies concert went over well, that everything else was going to be well. But you've got to realize the Barenaked Ladies had an age group of 15 to 60," MacLeod said.

She predicted the hip hop-inspired pop band coming on the Labour Day weekend would draw a much younger and rowdier crowd.

"This concert is going to take 13 to 25. A lot more alcohol, drugs, needles whatever can take place at any concert."

Police Deputy Chief Richard Collins said many people seem to be focusing on the worst-case scenario.

Collins also said thecity and emergency responseagencies followed theexample of other Maritime cities that had big concerts and puta security plan together in three weeks.

"We took the plan for the Rolling Stones in Moncton and modified it. So what was 60,000 we took it and modified it for 20,000," Collins said.

Concert promoter David Carver did not attend the meeting.