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Occupy Victoria protest racks up police overtime

Police have been called to Centennial Park encampment 65 times since mid-October

The Occupy Victoria protest at Centennial Square has so far cost the city about $27,000 in police overtime.

"It stretches our regular patrol resources too much," said Const. Mike Russell, Victoria police spokesperson. "We can't have officers dedicated there when we're responsible for a whole city."

Police were called to the encampment 63 times since the protest began Oct. 15.

On Sunday night, two officers were called to investigate a missing youth case, and wound up dealing with two fights and helping someone suffering a seizure.

"So our officers are down there just trying to mitigate the damage that's occurring," Russell said.