Toronto police say they don’t expect this weekend’s Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival to be marred by violence, but will be on patrol to ensure a safe environment for the internationally-renowned celebration.

Mark Pugash, Toronto Police Service’s manager of corporate communications, said there would be an increased police presence for the remainder of the summer, including at this weekend’s Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival.

“We will be there in sufficient numbers to ensure that it is safe. It is to make it safe, it is to make people feel safe, and it is to send a clear message about what the community’s expectations are about the carnival,” Pugash told CP24.

“We are looking forward to a safe and successful carnival.”

Pugash said Chief Bill Blair is committed to having the force’s street presence increased through the summer following a deadly string of recent fatal shootings.

“People will see more police officers throughout the city and at the various events that are going on,” said Pugash.

“There will be more officers this weekend at Caribbana, as there will be throughout the city.”

An outbreak of gun violence, highlighted by a public shootout that left two young bystanders dead and more than a dozen others injured, sparked outrage in the community and prompted politicians to vow to find an end to Toronto’s gang problem.

In the wake of the shooting, Carnival organizer Stephen Weir announced that spectators in the bleachers at the celebration would have their bags searched for illegal and dangerous items such as drugs, alcohol, weapons and possible projectiles.

He likened the searches to bag checks patrons would receive at Blue Jays or Maple Leafs games.

“If it makes people feel better, then that’s great and there’s no reason why we shouldn’t,” he told CTV Toronto last week.

The Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival is one of Toronto’s largest outdoor summer events and brings and estimated 800,000 people to downtown Toronto. A parade is scheduled for Saturday beginning at Exhibition Place and travelling along a 3.5-kilometre stretch of Lake Shore Boulevard.

Pugash said that officers need the public to alert them if they spot a person wanted by police, see a gun or perceive a possible threat.

“We need that assistance so that we can put all our extra capacity into investigating it, into identifying people, charging them and putting them before the courts. Our efforts will go from now until the end of the summer,” he said.