Hanson Launches City Centre Policing Initiative

23 June 2005
HANSON LAUNCHES CITY CENTRE POLICING INITIATIVE
Two new police officers dedicated to tackling anti-social behaviour will soon be on the "beat" in Belfast City Centre.

The initiative was launched in Belfast City Hall during NIO Community Safety Week by Social Development and Criminal Justice Minister David Hanson MP.

He said: "The City Centre is Belfast’s ‘shop window’. People who live and work here and those who visit should feel safe while going about their business. It must provide welcoming streets free from all aspects of anti-social behaviour.

"This initiative is an important step to help achieve that goal. By showing that Belfast is a safe place to do business, we will convey a strong and positive message to potential investors and visitors and maximise the opportunity for economic growth.

"Belfast City Centre is Northern Ireland’s primary retail and leisure destination. I welcome this initiative by Belfast Chamber of Trade and Commerce and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). It is an excellent example of the private and public sectors working together to tackle a shared problem and will contribute to the overall drive to make Belfast a safe and attractive place for everyone."

PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Duncan McCausland said: "This initiative is part of an integrated approach to address all forms of anti-social behaviour in Belfast City Centre. The dedicated police officers will help achieve this by providing enhanced levels of visible and accessible policing.

"They will be supported by the existing policing teams working daily to make the city centre a safer place to live, work and visit. The new patrol will work with Belfast City Centre Management, the City Council and other agencies to provide a strategic approach to deal with the issues of anti-social behaviour, providing a ‘frontline’ policing contact for retailers and other businesses in the city. The Police Service and Belfast Chamber of Trade and Commerce will continue to work closely together to ensure the success of this joint initiative."

Lord Mayor, Councillor Wallace Browne said: "The Belfast City Centre Beat is an exciting new initiative and is in keeping with the City Council’s priority to make Belfast brighter, more attractive and safe.

"It underlines our policy of working in partnership with other organisations for the benefit of the people of the city. I am pleased that the Council was able to contribute and support this initiative launched during Community Safety Week. Belfast City Centre Beat is one practical demonstration of how this joined-up working can deliver new approaches. As the only democratically elected body for the city of Belfast, we believe we can play a significant role in facilitating a co-ordinated approach to a number of issues.

"We have also been working closely with the police to deal with the blight of illegal street trading. Most recent figures show that it is working as we have seized over Ł1.5 million worth of goods, including 8.5 tonnes of food. I am confident that the appointment of the new City Centre Beat Officers will produce similar results in relation to all forms of anti social behaviour."

Gerald Steinberg, President of Belfast Chamber of Trade and Commerce, said: "By joining with the PSNI to take this initiative forward, the Chamber and our strategic partners, Belfast City Centre Management (BCCM), have demonstrated real commitment to improving the attractiveness of the city centre. The retailers and other businesses, which are funding the additional policing resources, want people who use the City Centre for shopping, employment and leisure to feel safe and secure.

"Progress has been made in recent years in tackling anti-social behaviour on our streets but much more needs to be done to prepare the City for the huge expansion in retail and leisure which we look forward to with the opening of Victoria Square in 2007. Safe and attractive streets will be good for business, good for Belfast and contribute to further growth of the City’s tourism sector and reputation as an international venue for conferences."
NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. This pilot policing initiative was developed by Belfast Chamber of Trade and the PSNI and will run for 12 months from June 2005. The additional policing resources will be funded by Belfast Chamber of Trade and Commerce which has entered into a Service Level Agreement (SLA) with the PSNI.

2. The SLA sets out the range of anti-social behaviour matters which the Chamber and Police Service have agreed as priorities to address. These include:

working with Belfast City Council and other enforcement agencies for the removal of illegal street trading;

contributing to the control and improvement of traffic related nuisance;

addressing littering, graffiti and other environmental nuisances;

contributing to the managed approach of individuals suffering from chronic social need such as rough sleeping, solvent and alcohol abuse.

3 The funding of this pilot initiative and the SLA will be reviewed after six months of operation.

4. The new dedicated policing patrol is not designed to replace the 24-hour policing service in Belfast City Centre provided by South Belfast District Command Unit.

5. For media enquiries please contact Dara Cosgrove on 028 9082 9078.

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