CREDIT: JEN DOEDE
This year's Project L.E.A.R.N campaign will run from Sept. 7 to Oct. 1. The project is a continued effort to minimize the disturbance and any problems that might be associated with student partying, something that has already been an issue around Fanshawe College.

From Sept. 7 to Oct. 1, members of the London Police Service (LPS) will be participating in Project L.E.A.R.N 2017. L.E.A.R.N stands for Liquor Enforcement and Reduction of Noise. An influx of new and returning students moving into (or back into) their apartments and townhouses are eager to celebrate the school year. The first month of school is notorious for its abundance of parties and social gatherings. As a result of the high rate of partying during the first month of school, the LPS launched the Project L.E.A.R.N campaign over 12 years ago.

According to a statement from Const. Caitlin Norman, “The goal of Project L.E.A.R.N is to educate citizens, mainly students, who engage in excessive partying in residential areas.” Part of the campaign includes extra patrols around Fanshawe College and Western University neighborhoods, as well as the downtown area.

“The police looking out for our students is a good thing because, especially in the first week of school, most alcohol related incidents and sexual assaults happen,” Morganna Sampson, president of the Fanshawe Student Union (FSU) said.

Oftentimes educational tactics and warnings are not able to maintain order. In these situations, officers will issue offence notices for both by-law and provincial offences. These offences include nuisances involving liquor, noise and other substances responsible for domestic disturbances.

Project L.E.A.R.N's extra protective measures have already had an effect this month. According to an official news release from the LPS on Sept. 6, a gathering at Thurman Circle on the night of Sunday Sept. 3 and the morning of Monday Sept. 4 resulted in police having to intervene.

As a result of the incident that happened at Thurman Circle, the LPS stated that “In total, six individuals were transported to cells in relation to public intoxication, and one adult female was charged with the following Criminal Code of Canada offences:

• Two counts of assault police, contrary to section 270(1) (a);

• Causing a disturbance, contrary to section 175(1)(a)(i);

• Uttering threats to cause death, contrary to section 264.1(1)(a); and

• Resist arrest, contrary to section 129(a);”

“There is definitely a positive relationship [between] Project L.E.A.R.N [and] the city of London. In 2015, there were 791 offences noticed within the duration of the project L.E.A.R.N period. In 2016, there was a total of 254 offences noted, indicating an improvement,” Sampson said.

The LPS continues to work with both the Fanshawe Student Union (FSU) and the Western student council as well as community partners during the campaign.