Key to the work of Ards DPP is the need to consult the community in order to identify and subsequently prioritise local policing plans with the District Commander. This consultation takes a range of forms and includes the following.
Public meetings
Ards DPP will hold at least four of its meetings in public, providing the public not only with an opportunity to scrutinise its work first hand, but also to provide a forum to raise questions and obtain responses from the District Commander. Furthermore the Partnership has also agreed that its meetings should take place in different locations throughout the Borough in order to ensure that they are accessible to the whole community.
Postal Surveys
In 2003, 2004 and again in 2006 Ards DPP participated in Northern Ireland wide consultation exercises examining the public’s perceptions of crime, the performance of the police and the level of awareness of District Policing Partnerships at both a local and Province wide level. A further survey is planned for 2008.
In 2007 a local survey was carried out. 20% of the respondents indicated that anti social behaviour was the single biggest problem in the Borough.
18% of the respondents felt that alcohol and drug abuse was the single biggest problem.
16% of the respondents indicated that road safety was the single biggest problem.
46% of respondents did not know whether Ards DPP was doing a good job or not.
20% of the respondents were satisfied with the polcing in their area.
To see the full results of this survey click here.
Focus Groups/Community Group meetings
A series of meetings have been held between Ards DPP members and various groups with the Borough. This Community Engagement programme was established not only to raise the profile of the Partnership but also to enable members to hear first hand from the local community what problems are occuring in their area, how have the police and other organisations responded to these issues and what further measures they would want to see introduced.