London police return with Project L.E.A.R.N.
With the school year now in full
swing, students all over London are
focusing on their education during
the day, and, come evening, social
gatherings take place near their respective
schools.
Among the bustle of excitement after a long day of learning, however, members of the London Police Service (LPS) can be seen on nearly every block, cruising throughout neighbourhoods of the surrounding campuses of Fanshawe, Western University and the downtown core.
The abundance of police is far from coincidental, as the start of the school year also brings back Project L.E.A.R.N.
Project L.E.A.R.N., or Liquor Enforcement and Reduction of Noise happens each year in London from the end of August to the end of September to make sure that students remember to stay within the lines set out for them while getting together on weekends.
The Project was established eight years ago and has been controversial since its launch.
Last year alone, more than 2,000 provincial offence notices were given out along with 77 criminal charges, both increases from the year previous.
Although only have the notices and 22 per cent of the charges were given out to students, there were many who claim that they were being targeted by police even when they were doing nothing obviously wrong.
Brady Bartlett, a resident of the neighbourhood surrounding Fanshawe and a student at the college is leaning onto the side of disliking the Project, although he can agree that it forces students to be more cautious when going out to enjoy a weekend out with friends.
“Obviously the cops will still be around without Project L.E.A.R.N.,” he said. “They just wouldn’t be as abundant around the Fleming area.”
The London Police have released several statements saying that they aren’t out to ruin fun, only to make sure it doesn’t get out of hand.
“There will be a balanced approach with enforcement of bylaws and warnings, where appropriate, relating to parties, parking, open fires, noise, litter and public urination,” said the LPS in a release dated August 29.
To many students, they are seen as nothing more than a nuisance, including Emilie Erweid who said that, “people will party whether they’re there or not. I’m sure they could be doing something else instead of looking for trouble.”
With Western’s homecoming weekend fast approaching, the police presence will continue to remain strong in all student neighbourhoods and students are advised to remain cautious when attending social events to avoid making a mistake that could be potentially life altering and irreversible.
LPS continued to say, “The members of the [LPS], Western’s University Students’ Council and Fanshawe Student Union are encouraging that while fun is being had, that it is done responsibly.”
“The issues that are experienced throughout the Project are not necessarily experienced yearlong,” said Const. Ken Steeves, media relations officer for the LPS, told Interrobang last year. “We allocate our resources at this time of year for the project. It isn’t something we can necessarily conduct as an everyday project because we’re taking resources from other areas to form this project.”
At the end of this month, the police presence will return to a basis of coming when called once more and the newest Project data will be released.
Among the bustle of excitement after a long day of learning, however, members of the London Police Service (LPS) can be seen on nearly every block, cruising throughout neighbourhoods of the surrounding campuses of Fanshawe, Western University and the downtown core.
The abundance of police is far from coincidental, as the start of the school year also brings back Project L.E.A.R.N.
Project L.E.A.R.N., or Liquor Enforcement and Reduction of Noise happens each year in London from the end of August to the end of September to make sure that students remember to stay within the lines set out for them while getting together on weekends.
The Project was established eight years ago and has been controversial since its launch.
Last year alone, more than 2,000 provincial offence notices were given out along with 77 criminal charges, both increases from the year previous.
Although only have the notices and 22 per cent of the charges were given out to students, there were many who claim that they were being targeted by police even when they were doing nothing obviously wrong.
Brady Bartlett, a resident of the neighbourhood surrounding Fanshawe and a student at the college is leaning onto the side of disliking the Project, although he can agree that it forces students to be more cautious when going out to enjoy a weekend out with friends.
“Obviously the cops will still be around without Project L.E.A.R.N.,” he said. “They just wouldn’t be as abundant around the Fleming area.”
The London Police have released several statements saying that they aren’t out to ruin fun, only to make sure it doesn’t get out of hand.
“There will be a balanced approach with enforcement of bylaws and warnings, where appropriate, relating to parties, parking, open fires, noise, litter and public urination,” said the LPS in a release dated August 29.
To many students, they are seen as nothing more than a nuisance, including Emilie Erweid who said that, “people will party whether they’re there or not. I’m sure they could be doing something else instead of looking for trouble.”
With Western’s homecoming weekend fast approaching, the police presence will continue to remain strong in all student neighbourhoods and students are advised to remain cautious when attending social events to avoid making a mistake that could be potentially life altering and irreversible.
LPS continued to say, “The members of the [LPS], Western’s University Students’ Council and Fanshawe Student Union are encouraging that while fun is being had, that it is done responsibly.”
“The issues that are experienced throughout the Project are not necessarily experienced yearlong,” said Const. Ken Steeves, media relations officer for the LPS, told Interrobang last year. “We allocate our resources at this time of year for the project. It isn’t something we can necessarily conduct as an everyday project because we’re taking resources from other areas to form this project.”
At the end of this month, the police presence will return to a basis of coming when called once more and the newest Project data will be released.
