Local universities pay for extra police officers for St. Patrick's Day partying

Local universities are stepping up their security plans for St. Patrick's Day celebrations in the neighbourhoods in and around their campuses.

It's the first year of such efforts for Brock University, which is paying for seven extra police officers in St. Catharines and Thorold neighbourhoods.

The university also got special permission to send its on-campus security officers out into the neighbourhoods to keep an eye on green-tinged celebrations.

The security efforts accompany other university preventative efforts like distributing "good neighbour kits" to students and posting messages about responsible partying, bylaw information, safe drinking and consent.

Meanwhile, McMaster University is funding extra police officers beginning Thursday and stretching through the weekend. The university has been paying for additional police officers for several years.

On Saturday and Sunday, the McMaster plan includes significant added police resources, including mounted units, patrol officers, RIDE checks and a dedicated dispatcher for calls from Ainslie Wood and Westdale.