Let's all work together: PSNI

The Coleraine Times caught up with three Neighbourhood Officers from the Coleraine East area and their message was simple 'help us to help you'.

Constables Daryl Robinson, Stephen Donnell and Claire Burke work in the Mountsandel/Windyhall, Ballysally and Cross Glebe areas respectively and they have appealed to the community to engage with them to help resolve any concerns they may have.

Sgt Sean Craig of the Neighbourhood Policing Team said: "These officers on the ground are working proactively to tackle anti-social behaviour, criminal damage, thefts and any other issues which have been identified by the community.

"Community leaders do a great job, but we want to try and take it further and engage all groups. If the community engages with us it sends out a strong message that the community as well as us are watching out for any criminal behaviour.

"Every area has its own concerns and we are here to address them, the knock on effect is a reduction in crime and fear in the area.

"It's vital though that the community works with us as local information is beneficial to addressing these issues, the benefits have been proved time and again.

"Don't hesitate to get to know you Neighbourhood Officer and build up a rapport with them. Help us to help you."

Constable Robinson revealed that work is ongoing regarding the Mountsandel shops area and urged parents to be aware of what their child is doing.

"There has been an ongoing issue at the shops in Mountsandel with young people hanging about," he said. "But high visibility policing has helped calm it. We are also planning to have more street briefings and bring out a community newsletter.

"But parental control can play a big part too and I'd ask parents to make sure they know what their children are doing."

Constable Donnell highlighted the issue of people riding quad bikes and scramblers in public areas in Ballysally.

"This is a big concern in the area as these machines, which are usually driven by children, are not licenced or insured," he said.

"There is a misconception that because these vehicles are off road vehicles that they don't need this and can be used anywhere, but this is not the case. Unless the you have a licence and insurance and ride them with permission on private land then we have the powers to seize them.

"Again it comes back to the parents and I'd say to them don't buy your kids anything like this unless you have the proper licence and insurance and permission to use it on private land."

Constable Burke told the Coleraine Times that there is a similar problem in the Cross Glebe area as well as groups of youths hanging around the shops area in the vicinity of Harpurs Hill and Newmills.

"There are similar issues in the Cross Glebe area as my two colleagues have already spoken about in their areas," she said. "But we are conscious that not all young people are involved in this sort of behaviour. Sometimes they can get up in things through high jinks and get carried away.

"But we would appeal to them to understand what sort of impact that can have on their community.

"Things like this can lead to prosecution and once it is brought to our attention we will step in. People can contact us on the street or one-to-one at the station or a neutral venue."