Gillian wins Community Policing Award

Tidy NI Local Hero Garnett McConnell receives his award from Council chairman Olive Mercer along with Council staff David Lindsay, Barry Patience, and Eric Morton, with Councillors Brendan Curran and Jim McElroy. INBLK4713-LOCAL

Gillian Corbett, who received the award in the highly commended section, from Justice Minister David Ford, was nominated by Banbridge Policing and Community Safety Partnership for her work across the district.

She beat off stiff competition from a selection of worthy volunteers.

“Banbridge Policing and Community Safety Partnership is delighted to see one of our local volunteers honoured in this way,” saidthe PCSP’s chairman, Councillor Junior McCrum.

Banbridge District Council Chairman and and PCSP Member Olive Mercer added: “Gillian has tirelessly given of her free time to initiate projects which benefit all age groups.”

Gillian was nominated for her work in establishing one of the first Neighbourhood Watch Schemes in Northern Ireland, for carrying out local initiatives to improve community safety and for helping other Neighbourhood Watch Schemes get established in the district.

She and two neighbours set up Kinallen Neighbourhood Watch and, with no external guidance . the small group set to work designing signs, applying for planning permission and organising for them to be erected.

The Kinallen group’s early success saw it become a source of help and advice for later groups as they set out to become established.

Gillian volunteered a huge amount of her time as she became an unofficial ambassador for Neighbourhood Watch. She has helped develop a total of 18 groups in the Dromore area alone.

Gillian took a very proactive approach, applying for additional funding for crime prevention packs which were distributed to vulnerable members of the community.

She also secured funding to establish a youth drop-in.

An active member of the Dromore Community Police Liaison Committee since 2004, Gillian served as Vice-Chair in June 2005 and Chairperson in 2009.

She has been instrumental in bringing to the table many local concerns such as anti-social behaviour, rural crime, burglaries and road safety.

Sergeant Paul Ferguson of Dromore PSNI Neighbourhood Policing Team said: “Gillian’s time and expertise have been given freely and have contributed to the high number of neighbourhood watch groups in the Dromore area.”