Police "airbrushing" facts in crime report claims McQuillan

Mr McQuillan spoke out during last Monday’s District Policing Partnership meeting in Garvagh when District Commander Chief Inspector Nicky Thompson presented crime figures for the last quarter.

While Mr McQuillan broadly welcomed the reduction in some areas of crime, he said that police had “airbrushed” over the cracks when it came to reporting on Garvagh.

“In this town alone there are 12 broken windows, a garage which was attacked with paint two nights in a row.

“Another time premises were broken into and the owners didn’t even report it to the police as they said that had no confidence in the police doing anything about it.

“There was also an illegal band parade in Kilrea last Sunday night when three bands came into the town and supporters were stopping traffic and where were the police?” asked Mr McQuillan.

Chief Inspector Thompson said that he was aware of the incidents of criminal damage and graffiti in the town and added that all the incidents were currently being investigated.

However he issued an appeal to members of the public to report crimes so that police had an opportunity to investigate them.

He said that there were competing priorities in other areas of the Borough but if there was sufficient evidence of crime happening in Garvagh, Chief Inspector Thompson said he could rearrange the priorities of officers.

He said that he was not aware of the parade issue at Kilrea but asked Mr McQuillan for information on it so that he could speak with the Parades Commission.

* Sinn Fin MLA Billy Leonard has said that attacks on Garvagh premises must cease and community leaders in the area show more leadership.

He said: “I have now received complaints that premises in the town have been attacked for the third time in recent weeks so this sustained vandalism must stop.

“People in the community are sickened that the attackers seem to be getting away with all their pathetic behaviour. It is time for more leadership from community and political leaders as there are grave suspicions the attacks are motivated by sectarianism.

“There are also concerns that the police are not pro-active enough in trying to prevent the incidents and then with their investigations when they do happen.

“We had the painting of the town in the early summer months and now this series of attacks. It really is time for Garvagh to up its game and create a much more inclusive place.”