Police substation near Fanshawe rejected
London's police services board has rejected the proposal for a police substation near Fanshawe College.
The substation, which was turndown in early August, was the brainchild of area residents, who complained that theft, vandalism and unruly student behaviour has been on the rise in recent years.
“This is out of control … on Friday nights it looks like a war zone,” said city Councillor Bernie MacDonald, who has spear headed campaigns in the past to clean —up so called “student ghettos.”
Councillor Ab Chahbar, chair of the police services board, said logistics and cost were a factor in the rejected decision.
“A satellite station does not resolve any issues at all,” Chahbar said, who added that the presence of a police station reduces crime is “far from reality.”
Instead of a substation, Chahbar said police would continue to work with the city, the University of Western Ontario and Fanshawe College to improve student behaviour.
In recent years, city police have used Project Speakeasy to combat noise, excessive drinking, parking issues and illegal by-law infractions.
Enforced at the beginning and end of post-secondary terms, Project Speakeasy aims to patrol the downtown core and student resident areas in attempt to control celebrating students.
“Uniformed officers assigned to the project will be tasked with maintaining a highly visible presence in the community in an effort to discourage over consumption of alcohol and reduce the related disruptive activities,” noted a London Police Services media release.. “The project was initiated in the spring of 2005 to curb the rowdy behaviour that had been occurring during the main bar hours around the city.”
Last year, Police were called to several incidences on Second Street and Fleming Drive just east of Fanshawe Campus.
In two separate incidences, out-of-control partiers threw beer bottles at police.
Over the course of the five-week blitz, hundreds of provincial, criminal and by-law charges were laid.
It is expected that Project Speakeasy will be in full force once again this fall.
The substation, which was turndown in early August, was the brainchild of area residents, who complained that theft, vandalism and unruly student behaviour has been on the rise in recent years.
“This is out of control … on Friday nights it looks like a war zone,” said city Councillor Bernie MacDonald, who has spear headed campaigns in the past to clean —up so called “student ghettos.”
Councillor Ab Chahbar, chair of the police services board, said logistics and cost were a factor in the rejected decision.
“A satellite station does not resolve any issues at all,” Chahbar said, who added that the presence of a police station reduces crime is “far from reality.”
Instead of a substation, Chahbar said police would continue to work with the city, the University of Western Ontario and Fanshawe College to improve student behaviour.
In recent years, city police have used Project Speakeasy to combat noise, excessive drinking, parking issues and illegal by-law infractions.
Enforced at the beginning and end of post-secondary terms, Project Speakeasy aims to patrol the downtown core and student resident areas in attempt to control celebrating students.
“Uniformed officers assigned to the project will be tasked with maintaining a highly visible presence in the community in an effort to discourage over consumption of alcohol and reduce the related disruptive activities,” noted a London Police Services media release.. “The project was initiated in the spring of 2005 to curb the rowdy behaviour that had been occurring during the main bar hours around the city.”
Last year, Police were called to several incidences on Second Street and Fleming Drive just east of Fanshawe Campus.
In two separate incidences, out-of-control partiers threw beer bottles at police.
Over the course of the five-week blitz, hundreds of provincial, criminal and by-law charges were laid.
It is expected that Project Speakeasy will be in full force once again this fall.
