Late last year, the Northridge Community Association requested a meeting with London Police Service and our newly elected city councillor. [Read our advocacy letter here.]
In November 2022, members of the NCA met virtually with Ward 5 councillor Jerry Pribil and London Police Service crime prevention officer Cathy Fountain.
Issues of crime and safety are complex and intersectional. We recognize that one meeting does not create systemic change, but as a community association, we are committed to advocating on behalf of our neighbourhood so that individuals in leadership positions throughout the city understand the issues that matter to you.
Here are some of our key takeaways from the meeting with London Police Service (LPS).
FREQUENCY OF CRIME
Crime is a city-wide problem right now, exacerbated by the housing crisis, the addiction crisis, and the healthcare instability people have experienced throughout the pandemic.
Although crime seems clustered when we see frequent social media posts about break-ins or theft, Cst. Fountain noted that Northridge does not have a greater-than-usual rate of reported crime, especially when compared to higher-need areas in the city.
What does this mean? Either Northridge's crime rates are similar to those in comparable London neighbourhoods or people are not reporting crimes when they happen (perhaps due to a perception that nothing can or will be done).
Reporting crimes through appropriate channels not only lets the LPS follow up personally with the individuals affected but also contributes to the overall statistics and trends that determine resource allocation for patrols.
WHAT TO DO ABOUT A CRIME
If you witness a crime in progress:
Call 9-1-1.
Provide as much information as you safely can (license plates, which direction someone is biking away, etc.), but do not pursue the individual yourself.
If you discover a crime after the fact (e.g. a broken car window):
Call the London Police Service non-emergency line or report a crime online.
Submit photos to LPS if available.
In a follow-up meeting, Councillor Pribil added that he sometimes receives direct emails about property damage or theft from community members. He emphasized the importance of giving express permission in those emails for him to share details and photos with LPS and the appropriate representatives within the City of London so he can advocate for your needs.
However, he also reiterated Cst. Fountain's plea to report crimes directly to the London Police Service. LPS receives high volumes of calls, so they must allocate immediate in-person resources to crimes in progress, vehicle accidents, and other issues with imminent safety concerns. But all reports are followed up on, and all reports contribute to the patterns that are monitored to determine neighbourhood resource needs.
What about the security camera photos you see in Facebook groups?
If the photo or video clip is clearly of a crime being committed on your property, Cst. Fountain was not aware of any legal concerns.
If the photo is of a person outside your property (at a neighbour’s house, on the street, etc.), Cst. Fountain cautioned against sharing the media online. Flagging “suspicious” people on social media, even in private Facebook groups contributes to stereotypes about who “belongs” and stigma toward people who may present differently or have a different socioeconomic status—and I don’t think that’s the Northridge spirit we want to foster.
Moreover, alleging that someone was affiliated with a crime can open you up to defamation suits if you’re wrong. (For example, there have been cases where a person’s reputation is tarnished by being labelled a “porch pirate” online after picking up a package by request at an out-of-town friend’s house.)
Should you get involved?
The LPS does not endorse violence and strongly recommends leaving follow-up to the police. The NCA concurs, and we are deeply worried by the vigilante sentiments that have arisen online in the past when neighbourhood crimes have been shared on Facebook.
The LPS noted that vigilantism can be a safety concern for all involved. People committing theft often work in teams, so you may be outnumbered without realizing it. There’s also the problem of a “good person with a weapon”: when you introduce a weapon into a situation, even if intending to have it with you for self-defence, it increases the likelihood of it being used against you instead.
CRIME PREVENTION TIPS
The London Police Service has a variety of crime prevention tips on their website.
ENCAMPMENTS IN KILALLY MEADOWS ESA
LPS and Councillor Pribil are aware of the fact that individuals have set up temporary encampments in the Kilally Meadows ESA, and noted that they’re becoming more common in suburban areas as many unhoused people feel increasingly unsafe sleeping rough in the core district.
There are 9 parks in London where encampments are actively disallowed. For the rest (which would include the Kilally woods), LPS only intervenes if there are additional rules broken (e.g. campfires made or dogs running at large).
One of the consequences of the housing and mental health crises is that there are too many people in London experiencing homelessness (for any number of reasons), economic instability, addictions, and mental illness. This is a systemic issue, and removing encampments across the board does not solve the underlying problems that lead people to seek shelter in parks and woods. This is not just a London-wide issue but a Canada-wide one.
Cst. Fountain and Councillor Pribil both noted that there are many community organizations that conduct outreach with people who are unhoused if any Northridge residents are looking for a way to support Londoners in need.
SCHOOL CROSSING GUARDS
In our meeting, the NCA learned that Northridge P.S. and St. Mark Catholic Elementary used to have school safety patrol programs that were affiliated with the CAA and the presence of London Police Services officers in schools.
We have provided further updates on our discussions with Councillor Pribil about road safety for Northridge's elementary schools at "Road Safety Advocacy Updates."
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We thank Councillor Jerry Pribil and Constable Cathy Fountain for their time, and we hope this helps to clarify some of the safety concerns we’ve heard from members of the community.
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