London police will get money for 97 new officers, hiring them could take time

Although the next multi-year budget will give police money to hire 97 new officers over four years, one policing expert said getting them trained and hired quickly will be a challenge.

"Based on what we're seeing right now across Canada, I think it's going to take a couple of years [to hire the officers]," said Tarah Hodgkinson, a criminology professor at Laurier University who also teaches at the Canadian Police College.

That's because police forces in Canada and worldwide are dealing with recruitment challenges — which the RCMP have even called a crisis — with more open positions than there are officers to fill them. 

"Everyone I'm talking to is talking about the crisis in recruitment and retention," said Hodgkinson. "It's a nationwide issue, but we're also seeing it in the U.K., the U.S. and Australia." 

She said police forces are not only struggling to hire new officers but also keeping existing ones. Some forces have resorted to offering hiring bonuses to recruit staff away from other forces.

In a statement to CBC News, London Police Deputy Chief Trish McIntyre said despite the labour market, she expects they'll be able to fill those positions.

"The proposed budget includes hiring 97 sworn members over the four years," she said. "We are confident in our ability to meet this goal and are actively engaging in recruiting events, outreach, mentorship opportunities and marketing strategies to do so."

Ontario's Ministry of the Solicitor General said they've made changes to the Ontario Police College to get more officers trained, something McIntyre also cited as a reason she's confident hiring won't be a problem.

Tuition costs for basic constable training were eliminated and they've added a fourth training cohort. A ministry spokesperson said these efforts will boost the maximum number of recruits from 1,440 to 2,000 per year. 

The province has also removed the post-secondary education requirement. 

The spokesperson said 2023 was a record year for graduates with 1,558, an increase of more than 300 from the previous year. 

Hodgkinson said these changes were made in part to counter a decreased desire from some young people to pursue policing as a career. She said high-profile incidents of police abuse of power, particularly against people of colour, have made it a less attractive career choice for many.

"There's a real hesitancy to associate one's self with the police at the moment," she said. "We've seen a lot of young people really struggling to want to be a part of that." 

Hodgkinson said the job's long shifts, the strain on mental and physical health and the risk of injury are other factors. 

Former London police chief Murray Faulker said hiring is a significant challenge right now. 

"It's not just hiring, it's keeping what you have," said Faulkner. "It's hiring for those who've resigned and gone to another police service or retired. We see police services that are giving out $20,000 and $30,000 bonuses to hire from another police service." 

The City of London's budget is due for final approval in March. 

Residents can have their say at a public participation meeting about the budget planned for city hall on Feb. 27.