The cost to police unsanctioned Western homecoming festivities increased by a whopping 17 per cent last year.
An internal task force report presented to the city's police services board on Wednesday showed it cost London police $311,076 to promote public safety and curb rowdy behaviour at the annual September weekend event. That is $45,921 more than in 2022 when police spent $265,155 to keep homecoming revelers in check. In 2021, the cost was around $256,000.
The task force created to help prevent serious incidents at the unsanctioned street parties included representatives from Western University, Fanshawe College, city officials, London police, London Fire Department, Middlesex-London Paramedic Service, and the Middlesex-London Health Unit, with operational support from London Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph’s Health Care London. Additional police officers were brought in from Windsor, Hamilton, and York Region to manage crowds.
While the number of partiers reached an estimated 10,000 along streets including Broughdale Avenue, Mill Street, Huron Street, Mayfair Crescent, and Epworth Avenue during the day, there was no real trouble until nightfall. The roughly 7,000 remaining in attendance, forced police to close several roads as a safety precaution. It was during that time partygoers became increasingly more rowdy and, at times, violent, throwing projectiles at officers and police vehicles. They also damaged street signs and trees and jumped off of rooftops.
Overall, 38 liquor licence control act charges, 16 highway traffic act charges, 10 bylaw charges, and two criminal code charges were laid. The criminal charges were for assault with a weapon and possession of property obtained by crime. There were also 249 administrative monetary penalties issued for a variety of offences including public nuisance parties, excessive noise, and parking violations.
Thirty-one people injured at the unsanctioned gatherings required hospital treatment.
