"The problem itself is not just a police problem. The police are not going to solve the problem of sectarianism at interfaces. We can up patrols, but parents, community representatives, CCTV, partnership initiatives and diversionary activities are required.
" Alone, we will not solve this, but we do take sectarian crime very seriously."
As the summer sets in, Londonderry like all other parts of Northern Ireland, often encounters an upsurge in sectarian incidents. The city has three major hotspots-The Fountain/Bishop Street, Irish Street/Gobnascale and Tullyally/Curryneirin.
Miles of newspaper print exists on the tribal divisions, petrol bombs, fireworks, bricks and hand to hand fighting that occurs at these flash points.
It would seem however that the work of community leaders and volunteers in these districts often remains unsung. And, in a city where sectarian incidents have dropped by 61 per cent in the last year, the people on the ground are at odds with the press.
They claim that the media only look for bad news in relation to interfaces and want to highlight that young people in the main, are turning their backs of the battle calls of yesteryear.
Over the next three weeks the Sentinel will a series of articles asking leaders in these areas what they think the summer will hold and how they plan to keep a lid on trouble.
Jeanette Warke founded the Cathedral Youth Club and has been at the forefront of youth and community work in the Fountain.
Her weekly task is to engage the young people of the Fountain and the Greater Bishop Street district, provide things for them to do and to educate them about the shared history of the city.
"My expectations for the summer are taken from what has happened recently and the ability to provide them with plenty to do," Jeanette said.
Mrs Warke pointed to the recent construction of a peace garden in the Fountain and the work of young people from both communities to maintain it as a highly positive development.
Jeanette said: "We are also working on a project with Long Tower Youth Club called 'Past the Jail and down behind the Fountain', which involves putting together an exhibition of old photographs."
The youth leader admits that there is an age bracket that is always going to be difficult to deal with, but finds that sport is another great unifying force. The Cathedral Youth Club is currently working with Trojans FC for example.
An Ulster Scots week is planned for youth during the Maiden City Festival and will attempt to take children away on as many trips as possible.
These days it would appear there is a general belief that sectarian incidents at interface areas do not happen for traditional reasons.
Mrs Warke said it is also her belief that incidents happen out of boredom more than anything else and said that a lack of funding will not deter her or anyone else in the Fountain from providing a packed programme of events this summer.
"If there is no money, we will just have to cut our cloth to fit us. We have playing fields within walking distance at Prehen and St Columb's Park and a small pitch in the Fountain. The Walls are also there to be explored. I don't think that expensive trips away are really necessary. we will also be running a project called LOUD Derry, which is an environmental clean up project to make the city look better for tourists," she said.
Charlie McMenamin co-ordinates the prevention of sectarian incidents in the wider Bishop Street area.
Since the initiative was created three years ago, volunteers have spent thousands of hours restoring a sense of security.
"The neighbourhood rota was set up in response to calls for vulnerable residents in the area caught in the crossfire between rival sectarian gangs on either side of the Fountain wall," he said.
Taking in a wide area, volunteers patrol from Bishop's Gate around to Wapping Lane with the support of people in Abercorn Road.
Charlie rejects suggestions that in recent years dissident republicans have orchestrated attacks on the Fountain area, using young people to perpetrate them.
He said: "We have approached these organisations and they have utterly denied any involvement.
"In fact the Irish Republican Socialist Party (IRSP) have been instrumental in helping prevent sectarian attacks."
Charlie also said that whilst the relationship between nationalists and the PSNI is not as rosy as has been painted that if people want to speak to them nothing should stop them.
"We do not want to see anyone getting arrested or going through the criminal justice system," he said.
Charlie issued a stern warning that foolhardy youngsters risk placing themselves in danger of arrest and a record for racial or sectarian crimes thereby ruining their chances of future employment.
"We deal on a daily basis with other issues identified in the area like cleaning up graffiti, vandalism and on street drinking. But, this has been one of the most peaceful years ever for us."
Mr McMenamin said that he is constantly bombarded by elements of the media looking for bad news stories and in his opinion sensationalise small incidents out of all proportion.
"We try not to run to the media every time a bottle or stone is thrown. Great credit must be given to the community workers here and in the Fountain, but more importantly to the youth of the areas.
"The good things they do never make the headlines, only the negative stories do," said Charlie.
In order to make further advances in the situation Charlie encourages still more proactive moves from all involved.
He told the Sentinel: "We need the residents themselves now coming out and taking on this work in a more structured fashion, both in the Fountain and outside without our help, knowing they are right and knowing this is the way forward for the future of living and working together."
Next Week: Michelle Hayden of the Irish Street Community Association and Damien McElroy of the Top of the Hill Community Forum give their views.