Waterside suffers worst vandalism rate in NI

THE Waterside suffered the highest rate of vandalism on Housing Executive (NIHE) property in Northern Ireland over the past three years.Vandals attacked NIHE properties in the Waterside over five hundred times between 2007 and 2010.

This was the highest number of attacks (527) in any district in Northern Ireland and cost the taxpayer 74,890.29 to repair.

DUP Alderman Joe Miller said he was disappointed at the figures and said this was 74k that could have been spent on maintenance and and improved heating systems amongst other things.

Mr Miller said: "I'm disappointed to learn this is the case." He added: "That's 74,000 that could have been spent on doors, on heating."

The highest number of vandalism incidences occurred in 2007/8 with 200. This fell to 147 in 2008/9 before rising again to 180 in 2009/10.

There were 115 incidences costing 19,685.37 in the Waterloo Place district and 375 incidences costing 32,113.50 in the Collon Terrace district over the same period.

Vandals therefore struck on 1,016 occasions in Londonderry wasting 126,689.16 in public money.

Mr Miller said the Executive should work with the PSNI towards prosecuting those responsible whether they be former tenants who have left a property in a bad state or vandals attacking people's homes wantonly.

The Minister for Social Development Alex Attwood provided the details when asked how many incidences of vandalism to Housing Executive owned homes have been recorded in each of the last three years.

The Minister also said he did not have a breakdown of how many NIHE tenants or non-tenants had been prosecuted for criminal damage.

"The Northern Ireland Housing Executive co-operates fully with the Police Service NI in the pursuit of those responsible for acts of vandalism/criminal damage to its properties, whether the individuals involved are Housing Executive tenants or not," he stated.

"However it is ultimately for the Police Service NI and Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland to determine the appropriate legal sanctions to be taken against those individuals committing such acts," he added.

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