Introducing Coleraine's new Neighbourhood Officer

THIS is Neighbourhood Constable Sharon McGonigle.

Sharon's job is to make Coleraine town centre safer for both shoppers and traders.

She will be working alongside shop owners, Council and the Town Centre Partnership

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Last Friday the Times met up with Constable McGonigle to find out about her duties as a Neighbourhood Officer.

"I look after the town centre," she said.

"I work with traders dealing with complaints and crime and I also advise them on crime prevention."

Constable McGonigle's role is helped by the Radio Link scheme, which links police with shop owners and B&E Security, who look after the CCTV cameras in the town centre.

"It's a partnership approach," said Constable McGonigle.

"If we get a report of a shoplifter through the Radio Link scheme, the cameras will follow the individual and we can alert other retailers of the situation. It helps to make the area safer and reassures both shoppers and shop owners."

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Anti social behaviour is an ongoing problem in the town centre and police are working hard to resolve the issue: "We are constantly monitoring things in the town centre", she says.

"Groups of young people have been gathering in the Diamond Area and in Anderson Park, and we are working hard to stamp out this bad behaviour."

The constable is keen to get to know traders and indeed shoppers to help the flow of information about crimes in the area. "There will always be a police presence in the town centre during trading times, we will add additional officers at peak times like Christmas and holiday times, in a bid to make Coleraine a safe police for everyone."

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