115 charges laid as part of police crackdown ahead of school start

Increased police presence in school zones across Waterloo region resulted in 115 charges between Aug. 26 and Sept. 1.

The charges were laid as part of Project Safe Semester, a Waterloo regional police initiative that was undertaken in partnership with Wilfrid Laurier University, the University of Waterloo, Conestoga College, Waterloo Fire Department and the City of Waterloo bylaw department.

Charges included22 violations of the Liquor Licence Act,79 violations of the Highway Traffic Act and three for trespassing.

According to a press release, police laid 69 more charges during the first week of this initiative than they did in 2017.

"We are committed to ensuring the safety of all students as well as the entire community," said Police Chief Bryan Larkin in the release. "We will maintain an increased presence in the universities and college areas to discourage public disorder incidents and unlawful and unsafe behaviour."

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