Working to make South Armagh Safer

I very much welcome the comments of those of you who have taken the time to view my various blogs over the past few months.

Regular bloggers will know that a blog is more like a journal as opposed to a question and answer forum. However, occasionally a comment or view prompts me to address an issue which I feel would be of interest to many of you.

Much has been said, over the past few weeks, about the Police service and response delivered in South Armagh. We have some very experienced police officers working in this area. Despite the very challenging environment, and the unique policing style required, they are more than capable of delivering a police service. To suggest that somehow we are failing to deliver a service to this community is simply untrue.

The basic human right to life applies equally to Police officers as it does to members of the community and when incidents such as the Newtownhamilton bomb occur we have obligations to protect both, particularly in the knowledge that the main target of the threat is police officers.

The quality of life issues important to those who live in South Armagh are much the same as most other areas. Anti social behaviour, youths causing annoyance, criminal damage, fear of crime, vehicle theft are all being tackled on a 24/7 daily basis by dedicated police patrols.

Tangible results, with the support and in partnership with the community, are being achieved. In the past three months, in the South Armagh sector, which includes the Newtownhamilton area, 36 people have been arrested for motoring offences, 40 arrested for other types of crime, 33 uninsured vehicles removed and 28 planned search operations resulting in the seizure of vehicles, firearms, cash and stolen property.

Working in partnership with statutory groups and the local community, three Neighbourhood Watch schemes have been established and police officers are actively engaging with young people in schools.

Despite the challenges we continually face we are absolutely determined to deliver the very best Police Service we possibly can to the South Armagh area. We patrol this area the way we do, not because we want to but because we have to.

With the active support, co-operation and information from the people of South Armagh I firmly believe that much much more can be achieved.

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.