Fountain has 'no confidence' in PSNI

A LONDONDERRY community activist says the PSNI have no credibility in the cityside's last remaining mainly Protestant estate, following a series of attacks by rampaging bigots.

William Temple, of Good Morning North West, said the people of the Fountain feel totally neglected by the police, after three weekends of concentrated attacks at the interface.

The Fountain man was speaking out in the wake of a series of attacks on homes and cars in the George's Street and Henry Street area.

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Mr Temple was the victim of one of these attacks when the windscreen of his car was smashed by a gang when they entered the area at approximately 7.30pm last Wednesday, January 27.

The latest incidence of vandalism followed two successive weekends of attacks on the estate. One attack - on Friday, January 15 - resulted in a man sustaining cuts to his head when bricks were thrown through his window.

Last week the PSNI acknowledged reports of "criminal damage" in the Fountain over the weekend of January 22 - 24 but a police spokesperson said the PSNI had received no such reports from the previous weekend.

But a police spokesperson has since clarified this by confirming the PSNI is investigating an "assault" on a man in the George's Street area on the night of January 15 when stones were thrown through a living room window hitting him on the nose.

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Police have also confirmed that they will be focusing patrols in the Fountain area following a number of incidents of criminal damage and general nuisance in the area.

Trouble continued in the area last Saturday night, when two paint bombs were thrown at a mural in Hawkin Street. According to police, the incident occurred at around 8.30pm.

One of the paint bombs remained intact and was taken away for examination. There was no damage to the mural as the paint was washed off.

Speaking before the weekend incident, an exasperated Mr Temple - who suffered 10 attacks in 2009 - said the people of the Fountain have no confidence in the police.

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He commented: "We feel totally neglected. The PSNI have no credibility in the Fountain. The people will not even talk to them they are that disgusted. The people have told me they don't want any public meetings with the PSNI. They don't take us serious and they have no intention of taking us serious."

He said attacks have become more concentrated over recent weeks.

"It's concentrated now," said Mr Temple. "It comes in spasms. Up until November it was right and constant. It eased off a wee bit. That could have been the bad weather too, you don't know. But then it started again with the petrol bombing of the Youth Club and the burning out of the house in Aubrey Street."

Mr Temple said it was difficult to say whether the attacks were being organised but the fact that they are occurring on such a frequent basis leads him to believe that this is the case.

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"It seems to be an organised gang that is causing it," he said. "If it was a one off - a drunk or drunks passing through - it wouldn't be as concentrated. But because it seems to be so concentrated it looks as thought there is an organised gang behind it."

He added: "But it is no fun for people who are lying in bed and are having their windows put in at 3am or 4am in the morning and are having their doors kicked in. That is not pleasant and it is completely intolerable. In fact it is outrageous and despicable that the police allow it to happen."

Police are asking anyone who witnessed the paint-bomb related incident at the weekend to contact them on 0845 600 8000.

Alternatively information may be given anonymously to the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111

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