London Police Services Board moves to keep seven-member structure

The LPS Board is looking to keep its size, maintaining seven members.

The London Police Services Board is moving to keep its current size of seven members, putting forward a motion that would prevent the board from shrinking later this year.

Board chair Ryan Gauss explained during Thursday’s meeting that the Community Safety and Policing Act, which came into force in 2024, replaced the former Police Services Act. Under the new legislation, if no motion is passed before October’s municipal election, the board would automatically revert to five members.

City council will need to approve the motion later this year.

Gauss said maintaining seven members is important for a city the size of London.

“We don’t believe that five is the size that a city like London needs with the issues that we’re facing and with the size of the police service and the oversight that’s needed,” Gauss said.

“We moved today to have seven people for it to remain at the current membership, and we’re asking council to endorse that.”

Mayor Josh Morgan noted that council previously expanded the board from five to seven during his first term.

“The city was growing. Having municipal representation — both an additional councillor appointed — made sense at the time,” Morgan said.

“It’s the largest expenditure in this municipality, and it allows for a greater voice on there. My position hasn’t changed. I think seven is working quite well.”

The motion is expected to come before council later this year.