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.

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.