The London Beat London, Ontario’s stream of consciousness
The London Police Service presented its 2019-2021 Business Plan and the 2017 Annual Report to the London Police Services Board during yesterday’s meeting at City Hall. The “Vision for a Safer London 2019-2021 Business Plan” outlines the Service’s strategic priorities for the next three years, with an emphasis on community safety, community well-being, and organizational capacity.
“The priorities of the 2019-2021 business plan reflect our mission to ensure the safety and well-being of London’s communities,” said Chief John Pare. “We want to do our part to build a safe, inclusive city where people feel welcome and protected. We also want to empower our members to do their jobs effectively within our available resources. We are proud of this plan and look forward to continuing to work with the community to put it into action.”
The Ontario Police Services Act mandates that Police services prepare a business plan at least once every three years. The 2019-2021 plan was created with substantial public input from three public consultation sessions, five “Chiefs Conversations” conducted at local public libraries, and four “Block Talks” held at various locations throughout the community.
There were also consultations with school boards, the Chamber of Commerce, neighbourhood associations, and other partners. Over 1,200 Londoners responded to a public needs survey, and 87% of the more than 800 LPS members responded to an internal survey.
“Police work is community work,” Chief Pare says. “We could not develop an effective community-based plan without contributions from the public and from our many partners. We want to thank everyone who participated in the consultation process. Their insights have been very useful in helping us identify community needs and build a plan that responds to them.”
As for the 2017 Annual Report, it featured a variety of updates on new initiatives, as well as stories about various people and units within the LPS. Designed by the recently expanded Corporate Communications and Media Relations Unit, it is an engaging, interactive, and informative look at the highlights of 2017.
“Every year brings challenges and successes,” Chief Pare says. “Policing continues to evolve and our community continues to change. 2017 saw us adapting to those changes through programs like the Diversity Ambassadors Team, and facing issues like human trafficking, mental health, domestic violence and others through new projects and programs. It’s not just about crime – it’s about the good work we’re doing to help bring our community together.”
Both the business plan and the annual report can be found in the Reports and Statistics section at www.londonpolice.ca
