Community reps have their say on policing

Sgt Billy Stewart, PSNI Banbridge & Gilford Neighbourhood Policing Team, also revealed, “In response to community concerns about speeding on local roads, I have directed my officers to do speed enforcement operations in the area and in the last week I deployed the Speed Indicator Device in the area where there was a recent road traffic collision.”

In response to the issue raised by the Chair of Gilford Forum about a current assessment regarding drug and alcohol issues in the local area, Sgt Stewart commented that whilst there had been more searches for, and detections of, drugs in the main Banbridge area recently, his view was that alcohol abuse and the crime/ASB that it fuels appeared to be more of an issue in the Gilford Area.

Speaking on behalf of Banbridge Policing and Community Safety Partnership, the Vice-Chair Mr Jonathan Murphy, commented, “Gilford Forum provided the PCSP with an excellent opportunity to advise community representatives about safer communities initiatives that are currently being delivered in their area.

“These include a drug and alcohol strategy for the District, to address community concerns about these issues; supporting local Neighbourhood Watch schemes by setting up ‘No Cold Calling Zones’, providing crime prevention advice packs for local small and medium sized businesses along with and organising a NOMAD cage football session on Saturday, February 1, from 7pm-9pm in the Riverside Mall carpark.”

He continued, “Banbridge PCSP members have a planning day on January 24 to develop a costed action plan for 2014/15 that will improve the community and will also support community confidence in policing.”

As part of its local drug and alcohol strategy, Banbridge PCSP is set to run a ‘Be Smart Don’t Start’ roadshow for local young people on February 7 at Banbridge leisure centre. There will be two sessions between 10am and 2pm.

Banbridge PCSP will also be holding a public meeting on February 26 from 7pm at The Belmont Hotel.

The meeting will be themed around Neighbourhood Watch and run by the PSNI and NIFRS.

For further information about Banbridge PCSP, please contact the PCSP staffing team by email: [email protected] or tel: 028 4026 0248.