Councillor Wilson new chair of Policing and Community Safety Partnership

UUP Councillor Andrew Wilson took up the post at the PCSP’s AGM in Carrickfergus Town Hall on August 24.

Speaking to the Times this week, he said: “The role brings with it a lot of responsibility within the local community and I look forward to working with as many people as possible to improve policing and community safety in Mid and East Antrim.”

The 28-year-old Knockagh area representative can call on the experience gained when he held the post of chair of Carrickfergus PCSP in 2013-14 before the new council structure was introduced.

“I found it very rewarding and I am delighted to serve for another term in the larger council area,” he said.

Congratulating independent member Marjorie Hawkins on becoming vice-chair, Mr Wilson also paid tribute to his predecessor: “Alderman (Gregg) McKeen as outgoing chair did a great job in difficult circumstances during his term.”

Mr Wilson continued: “The main duties as chair of the Policing and Community Safety will be to engage with as many members of the public as possible to hear their views on community safety.”

He hopes the introduction on themed sessions will help attract greater public attendance at meetings.

“The main challenges include working in partnership with the statutory bodies of the PCSP to improve safety and wellbeing in the area. There has been a recent spate of rural crime in the borough and we need to work out ways to combat this. Social isolation is also an area of concern within the community and we will aim to promote projects in this area. We will also aim to continue our work with partners to reduce criminality in the area,” he said.