'Last 12 months have been challenging'

The plan has been developed after extensive consultation with the District Policing Partnership, the community and local police officers, and sets the Police a broad range of targets for this financial year.

The Chief Constable's three guiding principles of "professional, protective and personal policing" have been put right at the heart of Ballymoney PSNI's Policing Plan. Based on it, officers will continue to provide a service that is not only professional by nature and protects the community from criminals, but also strives to forge personal relationships with our many stakeholders – communities, business-people, partner agencies and community representatives.

Speaking at the launch, Area Commander for Ballymoney, Chief Inspector John Magill said: "This local plan will play a key role in helping us deliver a professional policing service for the people of Ballymoney.

"The plan has been drawn up in conjunction with partner organisations and the community. We have listened to their concerns and ideas and the plan is aimed at identifying local priorities on which Police will concentrate resources and operations in the coming year. The targets are set against police performance in the preceding 12 months.

"My job is to ensure that we address the issues that are right at the forefront of local people's concerns. We owe it to the community to provide an effective, personal, progressive and professional policing service tailored for the needs of this area. The closer our ties with the community are, and the more two-way dialogue we engage in, the greater our chances of delivering just that.

"We want to support the District Policing Partnership in their task of monitoring our targets on behalf of all of the community at regular public meetings throughout the year. This is a vital and greatly beneficial task, not least from the police's point of view and I would encourage the community to attend the public DPP meetings."

Chief Inspector Magill said that the last 12 months had been challenging, however there had been a reduction in crime compared to last year: "The new plan will push those boundaries even further and will only be achievable with the help and support of the local community and our key partners.

"The more we work together, the more we can achieve and hopefully improve the quality of life for the residents of Ballymoney," Chief Inspector Magill concluded.

The Chair of Ballymoney District Policing Partnership, Tom McKeown added: "I'm delighted to launch the Ballymoney Local Policing Plan. We are pleased to see that the local police have included our suggested targets and areas of concern, which were highlighted by members of the public during extensive public consultation. It is through the work conducted by the DPP that the local policing plan is truly reflective of the needs of the local community and will addresses their concerns regarding the policing of the area.

"Ballymoney DPP robustly monitors Police effectiveness against these targets, both at private and public meetings. I would encourage members of the public to attend and participate in our public meetings."