Police increase patrolling in Waringstown

Police patrolling has been increased in Waringstown following a spate of burglaries, it has been revealed.
Waringstown community and church representatives discuss burglaries with PSNI From L to R: Cllr Marc Woods, Melvyn Hamilton, PSNI District Commander Chief Inspector Paul Reid, Ulster Unionist MLA Jo-Anne Dobson, Winston Allen, Revd Bryan Martin  Rector of Holy Trinity,  and Inspector Ken Annett.Waringstown community and church representatives discuss burglaries with PSNI From L to R: Cllr Marc Woods, Melvyn Hamilton, PSNI District Commander Chief Inspector Paul Reid, Ulster Unionist MLA Jo-Anne Dobson, Winston Allen, Revd Bryan Martin  Rector of Holy Trinity,  and Inspector Ken Annett.
Waringstown community and church representatives discuss burglaries with PSNI From L to R: Cllr Marc Woods, Melvyn Hamilton, PSNI District Commander Chief Inspector Paul Reid, Ulster Unionist MLA Jo-Anne Dobson, Winston Allen, Revd Bryan Martin  Rector of Holy Trinity, and Inspector Ken Annett.

Local MLA Jo-Anne Dobson welcomed the assurance from the local police chiefs during a recent meeting.

Representatives from Holy Trinity Church of Ireland in Waringstown and community representatives met with senior PSNI officers to discuss the recent burglaries which occurred in the village, including a theft from the church itself.

Attending the meeting arranged by Mrs Dobson were Revd Bryan Martin – Rector of Holy Trinity - Winston Allen, Sandra Irwin, Dick Mullan, Melvyn Hamilton and Cllr Marc Woods. The representatives met with PSNI District Commander Chief Inspector Paul Reid and Inspector Ken Annett.

Mrs Dobson said: “From the outset I would welcome the reassurance we received from the Chief Inspector that patrolling in Waringstown has been increased as a result of these recent burglaries and that full investigations are 
underway to apprehend those involved.

“We cannot allow those who somehow feel it is their right to break the law by illegally entering buildings, damaging property and pilfering for their own ends to get away with it.

!I support the PSNI in their investigations and trust that they will make every effort to catch those involved and bring them to justice.

“However it is absolutely clear that information from the public will be crucial to catching the criminals. Chief Inspector Reid and Inspector Annett have urged that any suspicious behaviour, especially in and around the Church should be immediately reported to the PSNI via the 101 non-emergency telephone number.

Cllr Woods said: “The message we received from the police was that intelligence-led policing will result in the apprehension of criminals.

“The police need that information from the public as soon as it happens and I would repeat Mrs Dobson’s call for people to report suspicious activity.”