As students begin to return to London, so does the London Police Services’ Liquor Enforcement and Reduction of Noise (Project LEARN) initiative.
Now in its seventh year, Project LEARN represents the combined efforts of the University Students’ Council and London Police Services to monitor unruliness in and around London during the months of September and April. There is increased enforcement around the Western and Fanshawe campuses as well as Richmond Row to help reduce the number of noise complaints and drunken debauchery.
“[The USC] is supportive of the project,” said Dan Moulton, USC vice-president university affairs. “By principal the USC promotes a safer community in London for students.”
“We found that last fall term when we increased the presence of officers it was effective in keeping control,” said Amy Phillipo, London police media relations officer. “Last year there was an issue regarding fires, but this year there has been nothing out of control.
Over the last week of the project, officers laid 466 Provincial Offence Notices, 356 of which were students. There were also 22 Criminal Code charges laid, seven of which were handed out to students.
“Overall, there have not been many incidents,” reiterated Phillipo.
The organizers of Project LEARN have also taken a more active approach to educate students and residents about past problems and how the London police will approach any future incidents.
“We’re trying to create awareness,” Phillipo said. “Last year [officers] went door-to-door welcoming students to the area and telling them to enjoy themselves, but please party responsibly. We’re telling students that they will be held accountable for their actions.”
Although Project LEARN promotes a safe community for all London residents, controversy has ensued in the past from individuals who insist the program is meant to target students specifically. However, the USC and the London police frequently work together to ensure Western is able to offer their perspective on the matter.
“We have ongoing concerns about the program targeting students as wrong-doers of the community,” Moulton conceded. “I liaise with the police officers. From year to year we meet with the police to discuss plans for the project and how it is going. There are levels of discussion.”
Along with Project LEARN, Western takes on its own measures to ensure the safety of its students and campus community. Off-campus housing has hired the London police to patrol the neighborhoods surrounding the university starting tonight up until the end of October. These officers then report to campus police.
“This year’s been pretty good so far,” Elgin Austen, director of Campus   Community Police, said. “The students have been respectful and there haven’t been any major incidents.”
Austen maintains that the amount of enforcement on campus will not decrease after orientation week.
“It’s up to all individuals to contribute to a safe environment,” concluded Austen. “Anyone who isn’t contributing to that environment are the people we will take an interest in.”