PCSP meets with neighbourhood representatives

Neighbourhood Officers from PSNI Rathfriland were also in attendance to help ensure that local policing delivery reflects the views and priorities of the local community.

Sergeant Paul Ferguson, the Neighbourhood sergeant for Dromore and Rathfriland, reported that anti-social behaviour (ASB) has shown a decrease over the past six months and specifically, issues relating to youths gathering in the area have reduced.

He highlighted that there were a range of activities and projects currently in place which involved working with local young people to provide increased evening activities and also to raise awareness about the impact of ASB on the wider local community.

Sergeant Ferguson advised that he’d spoken to young people at local school assemblies, and outlined the activities that his Officers are undertaking in relation to targeting locations where ASB is being reported. Banbridge PCSP is helping to co-ordinate the work of other local agencies and the PSNI Rathfriland Neighbourhood Team to contribute to this reduction in ASB.

React, a local voluntary organisation which supports healthy living and seeks to reduce drug and alcohol harm, updated the meeting on a local project which they’ve facilitated involving evening activities with a group of young people between October and December 2012.

The SELB Youth Service representatives highlighted the work they’ve been undertaking with young people in the Rathfriland area which includes ongoing evening activities for young people, support to local groups who provide evening activities for young people and education and awareness raising with young people around responsible behaviour.

Those attending the meeting also got the opportunity to look at and discuss the PSNI Banbridge Area draft local Policing Plan for 2013/14 which include local targets forburglary, ASB, criminal damage, road traffic offences, violent crime and community engagement. There was agreement that these were the right priorities for the local for the coming year.

If you’re interested in becoming involved in a Neighbourhood Watch group where you live, please contact the PSNI Rathfriland Team on the main non-emergency police number; 0845 600 8000 or email: NPT [email protected]

For further information about Banbridge PCSP, its Members and the projects and activities it supports, please contact the PCSP staffing team on 028 4062 0248 or Email: [email protected]