Policing plan built around your concerns

Also high up on the agenda of the 2014-15 local Policing Plan, launched on Wednesday, is increasing the achievement rate of crime outcomes.

Area Commander, Chief Inspector Catherine Magee, underlined that public consultation had identified burglary, antisocial behaviour, drugs and road safety as the issues which cause residents most concern.

To that end, the new annual plan aims to reduce domestic burglaries by one per cent and thefts by two per cent, to affect an increase of seven percentage points in outcome rates for crimes with a domestic motivation and an increase by two percentage points the overall rate of crime outcomes achieved using various methods of disposal.

Working in partnership with Ballymena Policing & Community Safety Partnership and other stakeholders, it is planned to continue to reduce the number of incidents of antisocial behaviour, to remove drugs from the community and reduce the harm caused by drugs, to encourage increases in reporting of domesic abuse and to ‘problem solve’ identified issues in rural communities.

Chief Inspector Catherine Magee said: “The plan commits local police to delivering against our three core principles of personal, professional and protective policing. We will be focusing on reducing crime and anti-social behaviour, building further confidence in our service to communities and protecting the vulnerable.

“We have built this plan around what local people have has told us they want and by listening to the needs of our community we will ensure that we are doing everything we can to help people feel safe.”

PCSP Chair, Councillor James Currie added: “It is in the interests of everyone to support the PSNI and if they do see anything suspicious or have information of any description make sure they get this to the PSNI to help them make Ballymena Borough Council area a safer place and a better place for everyone.”