Police tackle solvent abuse in Greenmount

At last Monday’s meeting of Coleraine District Policing Partnership in Garvagh, a report on police activity in the Greenmount area highlighted residents’ concerns about underage drinking, and more recently, solvent abuse.

PSNI District Commander, Nicky Thompson, said that Greenmount was now “on the radar” of police because of local people taking the trouble to report incidents to police.

He said that, in partnership with CRUN, two public meetings have been held to discuss the formation of a residents ‘ group.

PSNI Neighbourhood Constable Robert Rainey has been tackling concerns regarding the recurrence of solvent abuse.

In partnership with Coleraine Borough Council, an environmental clean-up saw part of Somerset forest cleaned up and several bags of beer tins and solvent tins removed.

It is believed that young people have been abusing solvents in the Greenmount area before making their way to Somerset Forest - possibly endangering themselves while crossing onto the Somerset Road.

It is also believed that one young person was hospitalised due to the ill effects of solvent abuse.