Anti-social behaviour prime cause of public concern -PSNI Area Commander

Details were contained in the Local Policing Plan 12-month report for 2013-2014 which was unveiled to last Wednesday night’s meeting in public of Ballymena Policing & Community Safety Partnership (PCSP) in Glenravel by Area Commander for Ballymena, A/Chief Inspector Catherine Magee.

In her report, Ms Magee pointed out that public consultations had confirmed anti-social behaviour, burglary and road safety as issues causing most concern and that police had been working with partner agencies to address those concerns.

She stated that from April, 2013, to March of this year local communities had reported a continued reduction of 385 incidents of anti-social behaviour and a reduction of 22 incidents of criminal damage.

Since the last reporting period, Ms Magee said police had managed to reverse the increasing trend in burglaries.

“Although the numbers of domestic burglary have stayed the same as last year and non-domestic burglary reduced by three, the number of offenders brought to justice is significantly higher than the Service average,” she stated, adding that Ballymena Area Command Unit has the highest percentage outcome rate of 16.3% for burglary in the PSNI.

The meeting also heard that while theft offences had increased during the reporting period, it was important to note that, as a result of effective partnership working, offences of shoplifting, bicycle theft and making off without payment had reduced.

She also underlined the importance of partnership working in reducing the harm caused by drugs and stressed that Ballymena PSNI continued to work hard to deter and detect drug cultivation.

The meeting heard that there had been increases in seizures of amphetamine powder and cannabis plants in the Ballymena area this year while seizures of opiate powder were “very small” and there had been a reduction in the amount of mephedrone, cocaine, herbal cannabis and cannabis resin.

Turning to rural Ballymena, Ms Magee revealed there had been an increase of six reported incidents of agricultural crime giving a total of 36 burglary, robbery and theft related crimes, however, she pointed out that this was still a significant reduction on the level of rural crime in 2011-12 when 65 crimes were reported. She went on to reveal that Ballymena PSNI had continued to reduce levels of metal theft during 2013-2014 and that the area had, in fact, the greatest reduction in metal theft in H District in the past year with 13 less offences than the previous 12 months - 27 victims of metal theft compared to 40 in 2012-2013.

Highlighting a short spate of metal theft from electricity pylons that had occurred in rural area Ms Magee said local police had worked with a range of partners to disrupt such criminal activity as quickly as possible given the potential dangers.

Ms Magee said the public had an important role to play in helping police crack down on crime.

“It is essential that members of the public, particularly in rural communities report any suspicious or unusual activity...if in doubt, please ring,” she said.