An important role for Ards DPP is to help ensure that the community cooperates with the police in helping to prevent crime. To that end Ards DPP has initiated, in partnership with a wide range of other agencies and organisations, a range of measures to help combat crime and to promote community support and cooperation. These measures have included the following, namely;
2007 - 2008
March 2008
(Picture courtesy of Newtownards Chronicle)
Peninsula Pupils Receive Lessons In Drug Awareness
120 pupils from two schools on the Ards peninsula have received lessons in drug and alcohol awareness.
In a special information event organised by Ards District Policing Partnership (DPP) and the PSNI, the young people from Strangford College and Donaghadee High School had the opportunity to learn about the effects alcohol and drugs can have on their bodies and behaviour and the implications for their future health and well-being.
“This event was organised in response to requests for action to address drug and alcohol abuse among young people on the Ards Peninsula,” explained Councillor Alan McDowell, Chairman of Ards DPP. “It is one method of helping youngsters to understand the very real dangers associated with any kind of drug abuse and the long-term consequences and also gave them the chance to talk to the people who very often are dealing with addiction, anti-social behaviour and health issues on the ground”.
Agencies present at the event, held in Kircubbin Community Centre on Monday 10th March 2008, were: the Fountain Centre, Bangor, the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust, Contact Youth and the Ards Anti Social Behaviour Team.
November 2007
Local Students Feel the Impact of Reckless Driving
Students from schools throughout the Borough experienced the impact of reckless driving at a dramatic Road Safety Roadshow which took place in Regent House School, Newtownards on Thursday, 15th November 2007.
The event, which was organised by the PSNI, was sponsored by both Ards District Policing Partnership (DPP) and AXA Insurance. The internationally award-winning Roadshow includes a shocking and atmospheric re-enactment of an horrific car accident, in a bid to bring home the reality of reckless driving to local teenagers.
Councillor Ronnie Ferguson, Chair of Ards DPP, commented, “The Roadshow is hard-hitting and provokes emotion, but it is necessary that young people are faced with the reality of their actions when they speed or drive carelessly. We have approximately 500 students from throughout the Borough attending today, and if we can help to make them think twice about Road Safety then we may have helped to save some lives.”
The driving behaviour of young and inexperienced drivers is recognised as a major contribution towards road traffic collisions in Northern Ireland, and has become a top priority for Traffic Police.
Speaking after the event, Chief Superintendent Graham Shields said, “Careless and Dangerous Driving are major issues on our roads and are the cause of a large number of casualties and deaths each year. Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, speeding and driving too fast for the road conditions are also contributory causes. For new drivers, building experience and not allowing themselves to be distracted is so important for their safety. The Roadshow is targeted at those who have just reached driving age or just passed their test - an exciting time in life when you suddenly gain an element of independence. But learning to drive a car is only part of the excitement; a driver also has a host of responsibilities towards their passengers and other people on the road. The novice driver is suddenly responsible for the safety and lives of their passengers, probably the biggest responsibility they have faced to date. This is why the drivers’ attitude, not just driving ability, is so important and why the Roadshow aims to educate, and highlight the impact of neglecting these responsibilities.”
August 2007
In August 2007 Ards DPP teamed up with Ards PSNI's Crime Prevention Officer and Road Policing to highlight road safety and to launch the Partnership's latest Wily Watson Leaflet "The Case of the Speed Merchant". The event held at the Ards Shopping Centre illustrated the dangers of excesive speed and careless driving on our roads by positioning a crashed car near the entrance to the centre. PSNI officers were also on hand to give road safety advice and to measure youngsters in order to raise awareness of the need to have properly fitted childrens car seats. Chairman of Ards DPP, Councillor Ronnie Ferguson, stated "Many members of the Community have raised concerns about excessive speed and carelessness on our roads which are among the main causes of road accidents, leading to so many deaths and serious injuries. Ards DPP, in partnership with the police, ran the safety event at Ards Shopping Centre to raise awareness of this issue and to hear first hand the views of residents on this and other policing matters affecting the Borough.”
In July 2007 members of Ards DPP again went on the road with the Council's Anti-social Behaviour Team, this time attending Portaferry Gala Week's Fair Day. At the well attended event, members highlighted the role and work of the Partnership and discussed important policing issues with the public. The event also saw the launch of the Partnership's new banner and slogan "Help Make Crime History" aimed at encouraging the public to report crime and suspicious behaviour to the police. Ards DPP has stressed the importance of reporting crime, anti-social behaviour and suspicious behaviour as it is only when the police have all the information can they target their resources in the right areas.
In May 2007 members of Ards DPP joined forces with the PSNI and the Ards Borough Council's Anti-social Behaviour Team at the National Trust's Garden Fair held at Mountstewart House, Newtownards. Operating out of the PSNI's and Ards Anti-social Behaviour Team's newl acquired mobile information unit, members were able to meet with the public and promote the role and work of the Partnership and discuss crime related issues and concerns.
In April 2007 Ards DPP launched in associtaion with the PSNI the first of a series of leaflets aimed at highlighting specific crime issues arising in the Borough. The Inspector Wily Watson leaflets highlight fictionial cases which the intrepid Inspector Watson and his assistant Lily Foster must solve. The first leaflet, The Case of the Bogus Caller, examines this crime and crucially, through Wily's Tips, details what steps people can take to protect themselves from this type of crime.
2006 - 2007
Using funding from the Ards Community Safety Partnership, DPP members have distributed over 550 personal alarms to vulnerable adults. The Partnership also funded the holding of a Doorstep Crime Theatre event, which illustrated the actions pensioners could take to protect themselves from bogus callers.
The Partnership also helped promote within the Borough the Northern Ireland wide knife amnesty. This saw 34 knifes being surrendered and disposed off within Ards. The campaign also highlighted the dangers of carrying knives and the serious legal and social consequences involved.
Confirmation was received at the end of September that the application submitted by the Council, PSNI, Ards CSP and Ards DPP for town centre CCTV in Newtownards was successful. The Partnership, whose support for the application was essential, had played an important role in carrying out a consultation programme to gauge the community’s level of support for the introduction of CCTV. The subsequent results of the consultation clearly indicated that both the general public and business community within Newtownards supported the provision, details of which formed a crucial part of the application submitted to the Northern Ireland Office for consideration.
In September 2006 the Partnership ran a conference for those involved in local Community Police Liaison Committees and similar groups. The conference, which was well attended, heard presentations from the Northern Ireland Policing Board, the Ards Community Safety Partnership and, most importantly, from representatives of each of the groups who highlighted good practice in their respective areas, helping to promote community safety and cooperation with the police.
In September 2006 the Partnership helped promote student safety, by part funding and organising in conjunction with the police the distribution of personal safety information and alarms to students at the North Down and Ards Institute.
In July 2006 the Partnership, alongside PSNI Road Policing Officers, proactively promoted road safety by running a road safety information stand at Ards Shopping Centre. This highlighted the dangers on the road and the efforts being made to tackle the problem.
In June 2006 the Law Enforcement Special Olympic Torch Run visited the Borough. Ards DPP played its part by supporting Portaferry and District Community Safety Forum in the promotion of the run’s visit, by providing the Forum with “goody bags”. These were distributed to approximately 120 local children who took part in the event.
2005 - 2006
Ards DPP added its support to the Ulster Community Hospital Trust and the East Down Rural Community Network's Intergenerational Project by providing funding to allow a celebratory event to be held at the completion of the scheme. The scheme involved fifty young people and fiftly older people coming together to explore opportunities to help reduce crime and anti-social behaviour and highlight what issues they would like to change.
Ards DPP participated in three Community Safety Awareness Days in Portaferry, Newtownards and Donaghadee. These events enabled members of the Partnership to talk Directlyto the public exploring concerns and views over local policing.
Ards DPP in conjunction with the PSNI's Roads Policing Education Unit sponsored by AXA Insurance ran a Road Safety Road Show at Regent House School, Newtownards. Through hard hitting testimony the award winning event examined the impact of a car crash on its victims, family and emergency services. The day long road show which was attended by approximately 500 5th and 6th form pupils from schools across the Borough was extremely well received and clearly highlighted the impact of speeding on the roads.
The results of the public consultation carried out over recent years has highlighted anti-social behaviour as a key policing issue and priority for those living and working in the Ards Borough. In support of intiatives already being undertaken by the PSNI, Ards Borough Council and Ards Community Safety Partnerhsip Ards DPP helped run a major publicity campaign highlighting the issue of the consumption of alcohol in public places by children and parents responsibility to know where their child is. The campaign utilised the media of bus adversting, local press and leaflets.
2004 - 2005
Funding was provided for a crime prevention One Stop Shop event held in Newtownards. Members of the public were invited to visit the event and hear about the latest crime prevention initiatives such as Car Tracker Systems and Help the Aged's Careline Service.
Ards DPP in conjunction with the PSNI and Ards Community Safety Partnership launched Neighbourhood Watch Northern Ireland encouraging members of the public to set up schemes in their local area.
Ards DPP is an active member of the Ards CSP a body established to implement measurers fro preventing, reducing or containing the social, environmental and intimidatory factors which affect peoples right to live without fearof crime and which impact upon their quality of life. The Ards CSP's strategy and action plan outlined a range of practical steps to address issues such as domestic burglary and anti-social behaviour.