Expect a greater police presence in downtown London this fall, as London police just announced that a new Community Foot Patrol Unit office is opening on Dundas Street.
London’s core business districts may have to transform to survive. Hard-hit by the pandemic, economic recovery in downtown London and the Old East Village is struggling under the weight of social challenges and the evolution of office work.
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Vandalism and break-ins at downtown businesses increased nearly 40 per cent last year, London police reported.
There were 205 break-ins downtown in 2020, compared to 112 in 2019, and 151 reports of property damage compared to 102 the previous year.
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In total, 356 incidents were reported in the core compared to 214 in 2019, a 39 per cent increase, said deputy police Chief Stu Betts.
He said people working from home because of the COVID-19 pandemic has left the core unprotected.
“We’re trying to maintain distance by staying home to keep people safe, but the unintended consequence of leaving spaces unoccupied is it makes them vulnerable,” he said.