Parties underway around Western University with heavy police presence

Some students were not deterred by warnings to stay home and to not party with gatherings underway in the neighbourhood around Western University in London, Ont. during the school's homecoming weekend.

The streets around campus, in particular Broughdale Avenue, were filling up with students dressed in purple, the school's colour, before noon on Saturday. Some small gatherings were taking place on front porches and front lawns.

London Police Service had promised to be visible and that was the case, with dozens of police officers patrolling the area.

Earlier in the week, public health beefed up fines aimed at stopping large gatherings, which could further increase the spread of the delta variant that's rampant in the community. 

The Middlesex-London Health Unit (MLHU) capped private parties to 25 people inside and 100 people outside, with fines starting at $750 per person. 

Police said early Saturday that no one had been fined, with students so far respecting the rules around gathering. 

"We're seeing some increased activity around Broughdale," said Cst. Scott Mandich. "Right now we have police, EMS and city bylaw officers on the scene."