Waterloo Regional Police say they issued more than 500 charges during Project Safe Semester, a campaign aimed to promote the safety and wellbeing of university and college students that ran Aug. 29 to Sept. 29.
According to a police news release, the types and numbers of charges laid included:
- Liqour Licence and Control Act - 95
- Highway Traffic Act - 267
- Trespass to Property Act - 9
- Other - 35
- Bylaw - 2
- Criminal Code - 124
- Controlled Drug and Substances Act - 11
- Total - 543
During Homecoming-related events, police said they laid an additional 101 charges, including:
- 46 Liquor Licence Control Act offences
- 45 Highway Traffic Act offences
- 7 Criminal Code offences
In total, 123 Homecoming-related charges were laid by WRPS and Wilfrid Laurier University special constables, according to police.
"This represents a 10.9% decrease from 2023 when 138 charges were laid," police said.
"Although Project Safe Semester has concluded, Waterloo Regional Police will continue to conduct proactive enforcement in the university district and school zones to ensure everyone's safety."
The police service thanked community partners who collaborated to ensure public safety during Homecoming 2024, including the City of Waterloo, Region of Waterloo Paramedic Services, Waterloo Fire Rescue Service, Wilfrid Laurier University, the Wilfrid Laurier University Student’s Union, the University of Waterloo and the University of Waterloo Federation of Students.
