Kamloops RCMP were called three times to a public space downtown on Friday night where large parties were reported.

Const. Crystal Evelyn says all three incidents were at the Pioneer Park boat launch off of 7th Avenue.

The first call came in just after 5 p.m., with reports of about 75 people who were not social distancing or wearing masks. She says “small groups of youths” were in the area, though police didn’t see any alcohol.

Evelyn says Mounties were called back to that area just after 6:30 p.m., to reports of three large groups of people not wearing masks. She says there were about 50 teenagers, though many ran off when police came.

Two hours later, at 8:30 p.m., Evelyn says Mounties were called back to the same area, and says, again, many of the kids on the beach ran off when police and Community Service Officers arrived. A few others stayed and waited for their parents to pick them up.

Under current provincial health orders, outdoor gatherings are limited to a maximum of 10 people and hosts or organizers could be fined for violating the order.

There has been no mention of any fines issued from the incidents last Friday.