Positive message at Gilford police meeting

GILFORD Community Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) has heard a positive message about policing across the Gilford area.

The committee meets once a quarter as part of the Gilford Forum and received the quarterly report on policing and crime for the area from Sergeant Billy Stewart on 13 January 2010.

The Forum meeting was attended by representatives from local community groups, statutory agencies and elected representatives as well as Banbridge DPP Members Councillor Liz Ingram, Councillor Seamus Doyle, Mr David Griffin and Mrs Beverley Burns.

Sergeant Billy Stewart who supervises the Gilford and Banbridge Neighbourhood Policing Teams, reported that whilst the total number of recorded crimes for the period of April to December 2009 had increased by one crime compared to same period in 2008 (77 to 78), there had been a decrease in the number of recorded burglaries (from 12 in 2008 to 5 up to the end of 2009), criminal damage and incidents of anti-social behaviour across the Gilford Area.

Increases in recorded crime were for the first nine months of 2009 were shown against Offences Against the Person (19 crimes in 2008 compared to 20 crimes in 2009); Thefts (10 crimes in 2008 compared to 19 in 2009); and Vehicle Crimes (1 crime in 2008 compared to 6 crimes in 2009).

Sergeant Stewart commented on a number of thefts of farm machinery from premises in the Gilford Area which was not a type of crime that had previously occurred in the area.

He stated that he had detailed extra patrols at key times in target areas to try and detect those committing the crimes.

He also welcomed support from the CPLC and DPP in terms of re-circulating the farming and rural crime prevention advice leaflet that the DPP had sponsored in partnership with the NFU and the PSNI.

He referred to the forthcoming annual Mullahead event which provides an excellent opportunity to raise awareness about preventing and reducing the opportunity of becoming a victim of crime with the farming and wider rural community.

Gilford CPLC Chairperson Mrs Bernie Scullion referred to the tax disc and MOT holders which the CPLC had developed featuring a 60 Second check list to follow before you leave your car. These double disc holders are free to anyone who lives in Gilford, Laurencetown and Scarva and can be picked up from either:

• Gilford Resource Centre, Dunbarton Street

• Laurencetown Community centre

• The village shop on Scarva main street

Alternatively you can contact the DPP Manager on 4062 0245 if you require a number of disc holders to distribute amongst your local group or neighbourhood.

The update from Banbridge District Policing Partnership (DPP) confirmed that the new DPP Chairperson was Cllr Ian Burns and that the new DPP Vice-Chairperson was Mr David Griffin. The next Meeting in Public of Banbridge DPP is on Wednesday 3rd February 2010 starting at 10.30am in Banbridge golf club, and the theme of the meeting is policing and crime issues for people with a visual impairment.

For further information, please contact the DPP Manager.

Gilford CPLC will feature again on the Gilford Forum agenda at its April 2010 meeting.