Project LEARN (Project Liquor Enforcement and Reduction of Noise), is an annual program by the London Police Service (LPS) to increase their patrols near downtown London and in the neighbourhoods surrounding Fanshawe and Western. The program runs annually during the first few weekends of the academic school year.

First launched in 2007, the goal of Project LEARN is to provide public safety, protect property, and to encourage students to behave responsibly, according to London Police.

“This is the time we welcome students back to school and the city, and we hope that they enjoy the great things that our city has to offer,” said Inspector Ryan Scrivens, of the Patrol Support Branch of the LPS in a media statement. “We look forward to interacting with students again this year and ensure that they are aware of their responsibilities and obligations as Londoners.”

Fanshawe student Nathan Coppola said he’s taken notice of several LPS cruisers patrolling and said he appreciates their presence.

“I feel that the extra police presence on campus is a good thing because it keeps everyone safer,” said Coppola.

Coppola believes that the approach LPS is taking in educating students on how to properly party and abide by by-laws is a good thing, but he also expressed concerns.

“A lot of kids are not going to look at what is a by-law. The majority…won’t read and will learn the hard way,” he said.

Project LEARN aims to teach students how to party responsibly while also respecting public property and keeping the safety of everyone in check. It focuses on dealing with noise complaints, open alcohol consumption, public intoxication, and underage drinking.

The most active time for LPS is during the week of homecoming (HOCO) in the neighbourhoods surrounding Western. To maintain order in the student housing areas, during HOCO 2023, LPS spent $311,076 on public safety awareness on the campus, a 16 per cent increase from 2022. In a release from LPS, police said they responded to several unsanctioned gatherings on streets around Western, that totalling 10,000 people during the day before waning down to 7,000 in the late evening.

Project LEARN aims to take a proactive approach by engaging with community members. Members of the LPS Auxiliary Unit will be visiting neighbourhoods around Western University and Fanshawe College to educate and inform students regarding by-laws and to provide crime prevention tips.

LPS has also partnered up with the administration of both educational institutions and student organizations to deal jointly when reprimanding students who break the law.