Determined to deliver

I struggle to understand the thinking of those who plant a bomb in a quiet country town, late at night, outside a heavily fortified police station, knowing that the most likely outcome is physical danger, or at the very least, damage to homes and serious inconvenience to the very people from whom they would seek to draw support.

As I listened, on the news, to the stories of those who had been forced to leave their homes because of the reckless actions of these terrorists and wait to see what damage had been caused, my heart went out to them.

Much has been said about the delay in the police arrival and we constantly examine our response to incidents of this type. We know that the terrorists primary aim is to kill police officers and similar incidents have been used to lure police officers to an area for exactly this purpose.

In the face of this threat we have put in place steps to ensure that your Police Service, over the next few weeks and months, is even more visible. Expect to see more police patrols, expect to be stopped at check points and expect the pressure to mount on those whose intent is to bring misery and destruction to our streets – what we ask in return is that you give us your full co-operation, understanding and support.

Our determination is to deliver a personal, professional and protective police service to absolutely everyone, and that includes areas like Newtownhamilton, and I can reassure you that our resolve to do so is absolutely steadfast.

Devolution of Policing and Justice

I've just returned from a few days off over Easter with my family - a chance to recharge the batteries.

Today is an important, historic, and I believe defining, day for Policing and Justice in Northern Ireland. By close of play today we should have a new Minister for Policing and Justice, the first in 38 years. Sadly whilst some will celebrate this day, with their support for the transfer of powers, others have marked this day in the only way they know how, by bringing destruction and terror to the streets of Holywood - I applaud the work of my colleagues, the other emergency services and the local community who worked so quickly to avert disaster.

Thankfully the older gentleman caught up in the explosion was not seriously injured, not that those responsible appear to care, but many of the residents in the immediate vicinity, old and young, will have now the job of picking up the pieces and putting their homes back together and my thoughts are with them as they begin this task.

The people of Holywood, and Northern Ireland, deserve better than this. These people will not succeed and as we enter a new dawn for Policing and Justice the resilience and determination of your Police Service is as strong as ever.

2010 - 2013 Policing Plan launched

I am just leaving for the monthly public meeting of the Policing Board.

Earlier this week the Policing Board launched the 2010 - 2013 Policing Plan. This plan sets out some very challenging and ambitious objectives, performance indicators and targets for your Police Service in the areas of Service Excellence, Tacking Serious Harm and Personal Policing. We are absolutely committed to achieving them. A copy of the plan is available from the Northern Ireland Policing Board's website.

The statutory responsibility of the Policing Board is to secure an effective and efficient Police Service and to hold the Chief Constable to account for performance. This relationship is a professional and productive one but not, nor should it be, always a comfortable one.

The monthly meeting is an opportunity to share publicly the many successes of the Service in the recent weeks. Successes such as:

• Lowest monthly crime figures in December, January and February for over 12 years
• Overall clearance rate up by 2.5%
• Domestic Burglary down by 2.3%
• Lowest overall crime per 1,000 people compared to our most similar forces in GB
• A homicide clearance rate, this year, of 95%
• 20 persons currently charged or reported for Terrorist related offences
• Numerous successes in the fight against organised crime such as Cash in Transit robberies, drugs, people trafficking, extortion and money laundering
• Considerable forfeitures of money, vehicles and property under the Proceeds of Crime Act
• Small by comparison but very significant the recovery of a stolen bicycle in Holywood through the social media relationship between the police and the local Community through Facebook - a first for PSNI and NI.
  

We are never complacent and many of our successes are reliant on the consistent support and co-operation of you, the public, and with this continued support this, much more can be achieved to ensure that, in partnership with you, we do everything possible to keep you and your community safer.

Whilst we would always prefer that you report crime or suspicious activity to us direct, if you prefer to make a confidential report on anything - no matter how insignificant it may seem -you can always call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.