(L-r) The new Area Commander for south Belfast Chief Inspector Trevor O'Neill, overall B District Commander Chief Superintendent George Hamilton and vice-chair, South Belfast DPP Sub-Group Hassan Mansour
New south Belfast police plan launched
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
By Gráinne McWilliams
Reducing anti-social behaviour, violent crime and domestic burglaries are
just some of the targets set out in the south Belfast policing plan for the
next year.
The plan, launched this week by B District Commander, Chief Superintendent
George Hamilton, has been developed after extensive consultation with the
District Policing Partnership (DPP), the community, and local police
officers.
Speaking at the launch, Chief Superintendent George Hamilton said: “This
local plan is a key tool in helping us deliver for the people of the area.
“Working with partner organisations and the community, we have developed the
plans to identify local priorities on which Police will concentrate
resources and operations in the coming year.
“My job is to ensure that we listen to the community and that people receive
an efficient, effective, progressive and professional policing service
tailored for the needs of this area. This can best be achieved through the
community and ourselves working closely in partnership.
“We have been making good progress in partnership with the community, which
is reflected in the reduction in overall crime in the District by 11.8
precent between April 2007 and February 2008, compared with the same period
the previous year. This works out at 1,996 fewer crimes. There has also been
a 6.3 precent drop in violent crime, which equates to a reduction of 291
crimes of this type, and 31.3 percent fewer robberies, a fall of 124
incidents.
“However, we must not become complacent, and we will continue to work
closely with the community and partner agencies to help make South and East
Belfast safer.
“It is the role of the District Policing Partnership to monitor our targets
on behalf of all of the community at regular public meetings throughout the
year, and we will work with them and support them in doing this."
Lagnbank Councillor Pat McCarthy, chair of South Belfast District Policing
Partnership sub group, said the group planned to "monitor the
performance of local police in fulfilling local policing priorities".
"Members of the public will have an opportunity to view this process at
South Belfast meetings in public which take place on a quarterly basis
throughout the year. I would encourage you therefore to attend and support
your local District Policing Partnership and to take the opportunity to
submit questions on local policing issues to your District Commander through
the mechanisms provided at District Policing Partnership meetings in
public," said Mr McCarthy
“I look forward, during the forthcoming year, to working in partnership with
the Police Service of Northern Ireland, and local communities, to make our
city a safer city to live, work and enjoy.”
The key priorities set out in the policing plan for the coming year in south
Belfast include:
- To reduce the number of crimes recorded in line with service targets.
- To reduce the level of violent crime.
- To reduce the number of domestic burglaries in line with service targets.
- To increase the clearance rate by 5% points.
- To increase the clearance rate for racist crimes.
- To increase the number of significant seizures of drugs.
- To reduce the number of incidents of anti-social behaviour to ensure a
15% reduction by 31/3/2011.
- To reduce the total number of recorded crimes of criminal damage in line
with service targets.
