L.E.A.R.N. from mistakes, but don't make any more
August 29 marked the beginning
of London Police initiative Project
L.E.A.R.N., which stands for Liquor
Enforcement And Reduction of
Noise. The project, now eight years
in the running, is a month-long program
where law enforcement is at its
busiest.
“We will be enforcing the laws that are broken, which include liquor violations, urination in public, any criminal acts, any noise violations,” said Const. Ken Steeves, media relations officer for the London Police Service.
The Project runs until the end of September, which is an exciting time for students, and a busy time for officers.
“That's when most of the parties occur, right at the beginning of the school season,” said Steeves. “We're not trying to discourage that. We want to encourage students and everybody who partakes in these events to do it responsibly.”
Though Project L.E.A.R.N. is an established annual program, incidents like the infamous 2012 Fleming Drive riot can still happen.
“That was an isolated incident. It just got out of hand,” said Steeves. “We've never experienced anything similar to that. And those that were identified as lawbreakers were definitely held accountable. They were charged accordingly and brought before the court.”
Since L.E.A.R.N.'s inception in 2005, students have been responsive to the Project, said Steeves.
“They've been very responsible and respectful for the most part,” he said. “Where the issues lay are when laws start getting broken and where people cross the line and are disrespectful to their neighbours.”
Steeves said the Project prevents community members from thinking certain actions are acceptable. “We don't want students waking up the next day regretting their actions.”
“Without a project like this, actions may continue to go unrecognized and/or perceived as being acceptable,” said Steeves. “We do it not necessarily to punish, and that's why we get the message out early, as a preventative (measure).”
The Project is not a yearlong thing, however. “The issues that are experienced throughout the Project are not necessarily experienced yearlong,” said Steeves. “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.”
The focus of police patrol will be Fanshawe communities, university communities and the downtown area. Steeves said students can't really prepare for anything, but hopes students are aware that officers will be out there.
“If you're going to host a party, do your best to limit the number (of attendees). If something is to occur, you'll be held accountable, you may be responsible. And if you're attending a party, the same thing. Be respectful of the host,” he said.
“If you're going to have a party, that's fine. The bottom line is, be responsible and respectful of your neighbours and everybody else.”
“We will be enforcing the laws that are broken, which include liquor violations, urination in public, any criminal acts, any noise violations,” said Const. Ken Steeves, media relations officer for the London Police Service.
The Project runs until the end of September, which is an exciting time for students, and a busy time for officers.
“That's when most of the parties occur, right at the beginning of the school season,” said Steeves. “We're not trying to discourage that. We want to encourage students and everybody who partakes in these events to do it responsibly.”
Though Project L.E.A.R.N. is an established annual program, incidents like the infamous 2012 Fleming Drive riot can still happen.
“That was an isolated incident. It just got out of hand,” said Steeves. “We've never experienced anything similar to that. And those that were identified as lawbreakers were definitely held accountable. They were charged accordingly and brought before the court.”
Since L.E.A.R.N.'s inception in 2005, students have been responsive to the Project, said Steeves.
“They've been very responsible and respectful for the most part,” he said. “Where the issues lay are when laws start getting broken and where people cross the line and are disrespectful to their neighbours.”
Steeves said the Project prevents community members from thinking certain actions are acceptable. “We don't want students waking up the next day regretting their actions.”
“Without a project like this, actions may continue to go unrecognized and/or perceived as being acceptable,” said Steeves. “We do it not necessarily to punish, and that's why we get the message out early, as a preventative (measure).”
The Project is not a yearlong thing, however. “The issues that are experienced throughout the Project are not necessarily experienced yearlong,” said Steeves. “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.”
The focus of police patrol will be Fanshawe communities, university communities and the downtown area. Steeves said students can't really prepare for anything, but hopes students are aware that officers will be out there.
“If you're going to host a party, do your best to limit the number (of attendees). If something is to occur, you'll be held accountable, you may be responsible. And if you're attending a party, the same thing. Be respectful of the host,” he said.
“If you're going to have a party, that's fine. The bottom line is, be responsible and respectful of your neighbours and everybody else.”
