Locals rally to save Hillsborough police station

Hillsborough District Loyal Orange Lodge, which represents 280 members and their families, and Hillsborough Working Together, which acts as an umbrella body for a number of groups in the area, have called on their membership and the wider community in the village and the surrounding area to make their voices heard during the consultation process.

Derek Crone, Worshipful District Master of Hillsborough District, said the police station is symbolic of the police service’s commitment to the village and local rural areas.

He said: “Hillsborough District has always had a fantastic working relationship with our local police officers through their presence in the village. Hillsborough police station is a hugely valuable facility, one that allows the local community to get to know the police officers and bring any issues or concerns to them. Any threat of closure is alarming and, ultimately, affects the community’s sense of security.”

Dennis Watson, Chairman of Hillsborough Working Together, spoke of the PSNI’s own service delivery commitments.

“Chief Superintendent Henry Irvine (the district commander) has stated that D District has three distinct commitments of delivering personal, professional and protective policing. We believe that any closure of Hillsborough police station would affect each of these undertakings to the local community and I would call upon everyone in the village and the neighbouring areas to attend any public consultation meetings or write to the police before March 26.”

Derek Crone also questioned the PSNI’s estate strategy. He said: “Whilst I agree with Chief Superintendent Irvine’s comments that it is police officers working in partnership with the local community, and not buildings, that prevent crime, the police service have a commitment to serving and protecting the public in their neighbourhoods.

“The feeling of safety and security cannot be quantified in monetary terms. However, we would welcome details of the costs that the PSNI expects to save if Hillsborough police station were closed.

“We would also highlight that the Patten review recommended that police stations resemble ordinary buildings and be more accessible to the public. I can think of few more aesthetically pleasing and open police stations operating in Northern Ireland’s current security situation, than that in Hillsborough.”

Lisburn District Policing Partnership will hold a public meeting next Thursday, March 8, at 7pm in Hillsborough Courthouse to hear the views of local people about the proposed closure of the station. This meeting will also be attended by the District Commander, Chief Superintendent Henry Irvine and the Area Commander, Chief Inspector Darrin Jones.

The Chairperson, Councillor Margaret Tolerton, is urging local people to attend. Mrs Tolerton said: “The police station is very important to the local people from Hillsborough and the surrounding rural area and is vital for the effective delivery of community policing. I am totally opposed to any proposed closure of this station and need the support of the local community to emphasise this to the District Commander.

“If Hillsborough police station closes, the local Neighbourhood Policing Team will be moved to Moira and we need to prevent this from happening.”

At the meeting the District Commander will present his findings on the consultation he has carried out to date and those in attendance will be able to ask questions relating to the station review.

If you have any views on this issue which you would like to raise with the DPP prior to the public meeting, you can get in contact with the DPP Manager on 9250 9279 or write to Lisburn DPP at Lisburn City Council, Island Civic Centre, 1 The Island, Lisburn, BT27 4RL or email [email protected].

The public meeting regarding the proposed closure of Dunmurry police station will take place on Monday March 12 in the Beechlawn House Hotel, Dunmurry, at 7.30pm.

[email protected]