St. Patrick's Day revellers in London have kept the celebrations relatively tame so far.
With the weather in favour of outdoor gatherings, most have chosen to enjoy their drinks on some patios open along Richmond Row, or in their own yards. London police have yet to report any major parties while an increased presence of officers patrolled city streets and neighbourhoods near Western University and Fanshawe College.
"I can say that we've attended a number of smaller gatherings at residences. But there's nothing significant at this time," said London police Constable Sandasha Bough. "Right now our officers are using the approach of education and enforcement. So it just depends on the situation, and every situation is different whether or not an individual receives a fine or whether or not they receive a warning."
It has been two years since Londoners have been able to partake in St. Paddy's Day festivities due to COVID-19 restrictions in place. Long line-ups at popular downtown bars along Richmond Row were not initially observed like they have been in the past however that changed later in the evening. Many outdoor spots downtown, including Barney's Patio are full of patrons soaking up the early spring sun.
Police are hopeful residents will continue to keep any gatherings tame and enjoy the rest of the day safely.
"Public safety is our priority," said Bough. "So we just want to ensure that those who are celebrating do so responsibly, and if anything does happen that the public needs to be aware of, we'll definitely share it through social media, and we're still using the same hashtag 'DontInviteUs2UrParty.'"
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