RECOMMENDATION FOR FRONT-LINE STAFFING ENHANCEMENTS

LONDON POLICE SERVICE TO SEEK INCREASE TO FRONT-LINE STAFFING

LONDON, ON (May 3, 2022) – During the April meeting of the London Police Services Board (LPSB), a recommendation was brought forward by Chief Steve Williams to increase the complement of front-line police officers at London Police Service (LPS). The request came after a year that saw unprecedented demand on the police service which resulted in the redeployment of the Community Oriented Response (COR) Unit and other members to front-line duties.

“The London Police Service experienced an overwhelming demand for service in 2021,” says Chief Williams. “While a year-over-year increase in dispatched calls for service was not deemed to be a significant workload factor, the nature of front police work has evolved. Simply put, calls for service are more complex and of increased severity.  This trend began several years ago and has been observed in other municipalities.  Calls are more complex to investigate, generate additional responsibilities for officers, and are more volatile than we have seen in the past.  As a result, our service to the community has suffered greatly. Further, the pace of work is not sustainable for our officers who are feeling the impacts.”

Says LPS Board Chair Susan Toth, “The Board has been contacted by members of the public sharing heartbreaking stories of long response times – from small business owners dealing with break-ins to women reporting assault.  The theme is clear: response times are not meeting our community’s needs. Police are also seeing more violence and use of weapons.  Increasingly, calls for service involve complex contributing factors, including addiction and mental health crisis, which require skill, attention, patience, and investment of time. It is to the detriment of our officers and the community when instead, police are rushed, wait times increase, and calls for service become backlogged.”

In order to help address this demand, the London Police Services Board (LPSB) moved to accept a request to add 52 new front-line Constables to the current LPS complement.  The addition of members to our current complement will achieve three things:

• It will ensure the ability to deliver adequate and effective policing services to the community, by improving response times particularly for victims and the vulnerable
• It will restore the capacity for proactive, problem-oriented policing with a focus on crime prevention (i.e. repopulation of the Community Oriented Response Unit)
• It will help restore a manageable workload for front-line officers, thereby improving member safety and wellness 

The LPS Administration and Board will continue to work with the City of London in the coming months to determine the most appropriate way forward to ensure the delivery of adequate and effective police services to the community. 

For more background information and the Chief's full report to the Board, please visit our website. 

For media inquiries, contact:

Cst. Sandasha Bough
Media Relations Officer
C. 519-854-8576
Email. Media Officer

Jennifer Foster
Administrator, London Police Services Board
T. 519-661-5646
Email. Administrator