‘One injury is just one too many’: City of London officials prepare for St. Patrick’s Day

Should London follow Waterloo and seek a court injunction to allow police to crack down on St. Patrick’s Day parties? CTV's Gerry Dewan reports.

City officials in London say they’ll be keeping a close eye on St. Patrick’s Day festivities in Waterloo.

That’s where an injunction has been granted, giving police the authority to crack down on street parties.

An estimated 9,500 people gathered along Marshall Street in Waterloo for St. Patrick’s Day festivities last year. Waterloo Regional Police hope the injunction will help reduce those numbers.

At a news conference on Monday, Deputy Chief Jen Davis said, “It almost allows us to prevent that from happening to disperse crowds before they gather.”

With the injunction, Waterloo Regional Police have the power to arrest and possibly criminally charge people participating in a street party.

London’s Chief Municipal Law Enforcement Officer Orest Katolyk told CTV London it’s a tool the City of London has been monitoring, “We work very closely with other municipalities across Ontario on the issue of unsanctioned parties - working very closely with Hamilton and Waterloo. Very much aware that other municipalities have tried the injunction route.”

Fleming Drive near Fanshawe College was the scene of the St. Patrick’s Day street party that got out of control in March of 2012.

A CTV news vehicle flipped and was set on fire and there was widespread property damage.

Not long after that St. Patrick’s Day riot, the city crafted a new public nuisance bylaw that addressed street gatherings and large house parties.

While it won’t happen this year, Katolyk said pursuing an injunction hasn’t been ruled out for other large gatherings.

That could include the large, unsanctioned homecoming gathering that takes place on Broughdale Avenue, near Western University, every year.

“Any decisions that we make here in London will be evidence-based. On the advantages, on the challenges of going down the injunction route. And we will definitely be consulting with our partners at London Police Service before any decisions are made,” Katolyk said.

Coun. Peter Cuddy’s ward three includes Fanshawe College. He wants students to have a good time, but he said safety and the concerns of others have to be considered, “When you have that many students accumulated at one time, and with the combination of good weather and parties, you’re going to the risk of having an incident escalates.”

Cuddy added, “One injury is just one too many. We talk about 2012, that was in my war – that was Fleming – and we don’t want a repeat of that. We don’t want anything close to it.”

Katolyk says the city, along with police, fire, ambulance and other community partners, will have a coordinated response prepared for St. Patrick’s Day gatherings in all areas of the city.