WRPS lay fewer charges during Safe Semester 2019, say students less resistant to police

Waterloo regional police laid a third fewer charges during their Safe Semester campaign this yearcompared to 2018.

Between Aug. 27 and Sept. 28, police laid 465 charges, compared to 687 in 2018. The vast majority were under the Liquor Licence Act (208 charges) and Highway Traffic Act (192 charges).

"There were an extremely low number of incidents involving violence or injury to any persons," says areport that goes before the Waterloo Regional Police Services Board on Wednesday.

There was only one "very large gathering of students," on Ezra Street, where a sofa and a mattress were set on fire. Police said, for the most part, students were "cooperative and apologetic for their behaviour, particularly in relation to the fire being started," said the report.

A "young male" Wilfrid Laurier University student was arrested for allegedly starting the fire. At the time, Laurier said it planned to"review the behaviour of any Laurier student accused of breaking the law, and will apply sanctions as appropriate."

• Brampton teen charged in connection with Ezra Avenue furniture fire

The City of Waterloo, universities and WRPS have been trying to find a way to get student parties on Ezra street under control, especially the annual St. Patrick's Day party events that have become a "rite of passage" for some, city staff said last month.

Students co-operating: WRPS

Police said they encountered less resistance from students than in past years, as they worked to break up crowds on Ezra Street and at house parties.

The police service credited "consistency of the police presence" for keeping events from getting out of control.

The 2019 Safe Semester program was a partnership between three law enforcement teams, with officers focusing on patrolling and enforcement between 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., when call volumes typically peak.

It also involved partnerships with Waterloo's bylaw enforcement departmentand special interest groups in the neighbourhoods around University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University.