Working together

Neighbourhood Inspector, Catherine Magee, praised the groups for the work they do. She said the work they do is 'critical' and added that the although the groups all work together they provide different areas of support for the community.

"This is just the starting point to develop a wrap around service for the community," said Insp Magee. "There are so many important 'agencies' in this area to support and empower the community.

"The work which they do is critical. When an incident takes place the police are not always best placed to provide the right resolution. That where these groups and services come into their own and can help the communities or victims of crime.

"There is a real inter-agency approach, we all work together but we all have different roles to play.

"We hope by highlighting the different roles people will know who is the right person, in the right place, at the right time who is best suited to help them with their problem.

"As I've said there are a number of key agencies in the area. We are highlighting five of them today as a starting point covering issues from community support through to victim support to give people a flavour of the services which are out their for them."

The work of the Community Safety Partnership was introduced by Coleraine Borough Council officer, Orla Quinn.

Orla said the three key priorities for the partnership are: Alcohol/Substance Misuse; Anti Social Behaviour; Fear of Crime.

Its current Action Plans encompass the three identified priorities within the projects they run, which include: Youth Intervention Programme, LIFE Scheme, Streetwise/Bee safe, Halloween Small Grants Programme/ Estates Clean Up and Midnight Soccer.

For more information on the Community Safety Partnership log on to: www.colerainebc.gov.uk.

Conn Mulvenna, the Co-Ordinator of Kilcranny House Peace and Reconciliation Centre, spoke of the mentoring and support work which is carried out at their base just outside Coleraine. Working in partnership with CRUN, Kilcranny House helps build relations with the whole community.

For more information log on to: www.kilcrannyhouse.org.

Angela McLaughlin of Coleraine District Policing Partnership highlighted the main roles of the DPP. These include: identifying local policing issues; monitor police performance against local policing plan; to facilitate an open forum for the public to ask questions of the PSNI; gain public co-operation in working with the police to prevent crime.

For more information log on to: www.districtpolicing.com/coleraine.

Janet Lynn from Victim Support spoke of the assistance they provide to people affected by crime.

Their services include - Criminal Injuries Compensation Service, help for victims and help for witnesses. They offer a free and confidential service, whether or not a crime has been reported. Victim Support is an independent organisation - not part of the police, courts or any other criminal justice agency.

For more information log on to: www.victimsupportni.co.uk.

Katherine Workman of WAVE Support Services said they are there to help people bereaved, injured or traumatised as a result of the Troubles.

At their centre in Ballymoney they offer a number of services including: a befriending service, individual counselling, youth service, advice and advocacy, peer group support, trauma training and complimentary therapies.

For more information log on to: www.wavetraumacentre.org.uk.