Community-Led Crime Prevention
Preventing crime is a shared effort. One built on trust, engagement, and early support. The LPS works closely with young people, families and the broader community to prevent harm and to create safer pathways for the future.
In 2024 we expanded several key initiatives that focus on sustainable support, collaborative approaches and early intervention.
Youth Crime Prevention Strategies
Supporting young adults at critical moments can make a lasting difference. Through new partnerships with the Ontario Court of Justice and the London Justice Centre, the LPS is helping guide young people aged 18-24 away from the traditional criminal justice system and toward meaningful support.
This approach connects individuals to:
- Education and job training
- Housing supports
- Mental health and wellness services
Outcomes from the London Justice Centre show that young adults who engage with community-based supports are less likely to re-offend, leading to a reduction in both the nature and frequency of future police interactions.
By focusing on support rather than punishment, we are helping young people rebuild their futures while strengthening public safety in the process.
London Justice Centre Pilot-2024 Snapshot
From April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025, the LPS participated in the Justice Centre Pilot, supporting an alternative approach to justice focused on early intervention, connection to services, and more timely resolution.
Key data from the pilot year includes:
- 436 charge packages processed over 52 weeks
- An average of 8 charge packages per week
- Roughly 36 charge packages processed each month
- On average, it took 12 days from the time of LPS interaction to the upload of initial disclosure materials into Scope, the case management system.
This work supports a broader goal of timely, coordinated responses for individuals navigating the justice system, many of whom face complex social or health related challenges.
Bringing Unity in London’s Diverse Society (BUILDS)
Bringing Unity in London’s Diverse Society (BUILDS) is a community-driven initiative designed to build lasting connections, promote safety and create positive opportunities for youth and diverse communities across the city.
Supported through the Ministry of the Solicitor General's Proceeds of Crime Front-Line Policing Grant, the program focuses on four key areas:
- Fostering a sense of safety and belonging
- Youth engagement through police-led activities
- School safety and early intervention
- Violence prevention and harm reduction
Through workshops, training and meaningful engagement, Project BULDS brings together officers, youth and community partners to strengthen relationships and co-create safer pathways forward. The program’s success is grounded in deep collaboration with organizations like St. Leonard’s Community Services, LUSO Community Services, the John Howard Society, local schools, mental health providers, and in-school settlement workers. These partnerships have opened new avenues to support youth, newcomers and underrepresented communities, especially in neighbourhoods patrolled by LPS officers.
At its core, Project BUILDS is about connection, trust and working together to reduce harm and build stronger communities.
Youth Engagement Programs
We believe that positive connections with young people promote long term outcomes for society.
LPS proudly supports youth engagement programs including:
- Rookie League Baseball Program
- Youth in Policing Initiative (YIPI)
- Coffee With a Cop
Project Safe Auto
Auto theft remains a serious public safety concern, with stolen vehicles often linked to organized crime and violent offences.
To address this issue, the LPS launched Project Safe Auto in March 2024, supported by the Ministry of the Solicitor General’s Preventing Auto Thefts Grant Program.
Project Safe Auto combines:
- Investment in new technology to detect and prevent auto theft
- A citywide public awareness campaign to educate residents on prevention tips
This comprehensive approach helps protect both individual property and community safety.
Between April 2024 and March 2025, 916 motor vehicles were reported stolen. Project Safe Auto led to 805 targeted auto theft investigations, resulting in the recovery of 476 stolen vehicles. A total of 63 investigations led to criminal charges, with 47 individuals charged in connection with motor vehicle theft.
Hate Crime Reassurance Initiative
Hate-motivated incidents don’t just affect individuals, they create ripples of fear and harm across entire communities.
To address this, the LPS Hate Crime/Diversity Unit implemented a Reassurance Initiative in 2024. Through this outreach:
- An officer personally contacts each victim or complainant of a hate-motivated incident
- The targeted community group is also engaged directly for support
This personal outreach ensures that members of our community no longer have to face hate in isolation and reinforces our commitment to creating an inclusive, supportive environment for all Londoners.
"Every individual deserves to feel safe, seen and supported in our city.”
In 2024, a landmark ruling declared the 2021 attack on the Afzaal family a terrorist act under Canadian law, recognizing it as a deliberate act of anti-Muslim hate—the first jury conviction for terrorism-motivated first-degree murder in Canada. The LPS closely with the RCMP, the Ministry of the Attorney General, and the Public Prosecution Service of Canada to support the investigation and prosecution. Members of the Uniformed Division and Criminal Investigations Division played a vital role in this complex case. The LPS also provided critical support to the surviving family and the wider community. This case reaffirms the LPS’s commitment to justice, community safety, and standing against hate crime.
London Police Service Board Chair Ali Chahbar and LPS Chief Thai Truong released the following statement regarding the court verdict:
“On June 6, 2021, our community was shaken by the hateful murder of four cherished members of the Afzaal family. Today, in a Windsor courtroom, justice has been served with convictions on four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder. While no verdict can fully heal this pain, we hope the decision brings some measure of justice to the family and our community.
We stand with the Afzaal family’s young survivor and extend our gratitude to first responders for their professionalism and courage. As a police service, our dedication to the safety and well-being of every community member is unwavering. Hate has no place in our city. Together, we will ensure that the legacy of the Afzaal family is one of hope and unity.”
Crime Stoppers
London-Middlesex Crime Stoppers empowers residents to anonymously report crime, playing a crucial role in community safety alongside police and media partners.
2024 Crime Stoppers Impact
- 1,248tips received
- 39arrests made
- 42cases cleared
- 98charges laid
- $79,550in stolen property recovered
- $178,977in drugs seized
- 2weapons seized
- 5traffic offenses addressed
- $34,588in cash seized
By speaking up safely and anonymously, residents continue to be instrumental in reducing crime and protecting communities.
