Public Consultation Survey
Every two years, each DPP should undertake a community survey throughout the council area to identify the views of the public concerning the policing of the district, in line with Point 7.2 a) of the Code of Practice. The information generated through this exercise should form the basis for discussion between the DPP and the police District Commander leading to the production of a local Policing Plan.
In May 2003, the Central Survey Unit of the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) was commissioned to carry out this postal survey on behalf of the NI Policing Board and District Policing Partnerships. It replaced consultation about policing issues that would have previously been carried out locally by PSNI District Commanders, and involved questionnaires being sent out to a random but representative sample of 60,014 households across the Northern Ireland selected from the Valuation and Lands Agency list of addresses. The questions consisted of core questions which were replicated for all DPPs and questions which were formulated by the local DPP. A total of 16,798 surveys were returned giving an average response rate of 28% for Northern Ireland. The results were available in October 2003 and were intended to form the
Within the Banbridge DPP area, a total of 1,475 surveys were distributed. Each survey consisted of 23 questions, which were a mix of generic questions asked across all DPP areas and local questions devised by Banbridge DPP. In the Banbridge District, the response rate achieved was slightly higher than the Northern Ireland average, with 30% of those surveyed (1,475 households) responding to the questionnaire. This exceeded the preferred number of responses of 295 that had been set by NISRA.
An executive summary of the results for Banbridge District are included below, which summarises the views of respondents in the District and gives an insight into their policing priorities. These are assumed to be representative of the attitudes held by wider population in the Banbridge District:
•The religious breakdown of respondents for the survey was 68% Protestant, 23% Roman Catholic, 2% other, 3% none and 4% did not answer. The gender breakdown of respondents was 50% male and 48% female
•The single biggest concerns among respondents was Domestic Burglary (30% compared to NI average of 23%) followed by Attacks on the Elderly (24% compared to the NI average of 13%)
•The areas of least concern among respondents were Paramilitary Activity (2% compared to the NI average of 8%) followed by Racial/Homophobic Crimes (1% compared to the NI average of %)
•Within the five biggest concerns were Domestic Burglary (62% compared with the NI average of 55%); Attacks on the Elderly (57% compared to the NI average of 39%); Speeding (47% compared to the NI average of 43%); and Underage Drinking (44% compared to the NI average of 47%)
• The single biggest priorities identified by the public for local PSNI resources was
Beat/Foot Patrolling (36% compared to the NI average of 39%); Prompt response to emergencies (17% compared to the NI average of 15%); Crime prevention (12% compared to the NI average of 9%); and Investigating crime (11% compared to the NI average of 10%)
•22% of respondents thought there was a visible police presence where they lived while 71% thought there was not
•61% of respondents had heard of Banbridge DPP and 26% knew who the members were
•46% of respondents thought that the current CCTV made them feel safer while 22% did not
A full qualitative analysis of the survey can be found in the document produced by Banbridge DPP entitled, “Consultation Report 2003”, where the responses to each question are considered at an aggregate level and then analysed splitting the respondents according to gender, age, religion and the townland in which they live. This is done to highlight differences (if any) that exist in regard to policing as seen by different groups within the public. A copy of this report is available from local libraries, the Civic Building and on request to individuals and groups. In the following pages each of the questions is analysed.
Public Consultation Forums
In order for public consultation to be effective, the DPP should consider holding a number of public meetings to enable people to present their views on the policing of the District. These meetings would be specifically to gather information for use in the planning process, in line with Point 7.2 c) of the Code of Practice.
Banbridge DPP held four public consultation meetings in the District during November 2003 in Dromore, Rathfriland and Banbridge (2). The events were organised in consultation with the local Community Police Liaison Committees for each sector within Banbridge DCU, and utilised the results of the postal survey as the basis for discussion with people who attended. The discussion was facilitated by members of Banbridge DPP, and a summary of the issues raised is as follows:
1.What are the local policing issues for your community?
Police response times in rural areas
Underage drinking/anti-social behaviour
Car crime in towns
Attacks on the elderly
Lack of resources being used as an excuse by the police for poor service
Speeding
Domestic burglary
Not enough police
High levels of commercial burglary
Feeling that local area is prioritised to the bottom of the ladder re policing
Fear of retribution if giving evidence
Role and approach of other agencies can obstruct the role of the police
Feelings of powerlessness locally and generally in law making process
2.What are the possible solutions for these issues?
Police to advise about likely time of response
More targeted pro-active patrols and more prosecutions
More visible police presence
Civilianisation to free up police officers
Crime prevention and education for older people
Anonymity for witnesses
Improved liaison between police, DPP and local groups
3.What partners could the police work with to respond more effectively to local problems with crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour?
Local youth groups
Housing Executive
Churches
Community safety groups/groups that have received funding to help themselves
Rural/community watches
Social services
Statutory bodies so that services are co-ordinated
4.What activities can Banbridge DPP support to gain the co-operation of the public with the police in preventing crime?
Encouraging people to form local groups to address or prevent a crime or anti-social behaviour problem
Promote procedures for reporting crime
5.Do you have any other comments about policing matters in your area or about Banbridge DPP?
No groups reached this question
Focus Groups
In order for the public consultation to be effective, the DPP should consider the use of focus groups to consolidate issues raised by a survey and, where appropriate, to facilitate those groups who are marginalised and hard to reach, in line with Point 7 of the Code of Practice.
Banbridge DPP commissioned MORI MRC to conduct four focus groups across the District in February 2004. A recruitment questionnaire was devised by MORI MRC for each group and approved in advance by Banbridge DPP. The following groups, which featured a spread of men and women and age ranges in each group, were conducted:
Grp No.AgeControl CriteriaResidenceDate
116-24Protestant Banbridge/Dromore28/01/04
216-24Roman CatholicBanbridge/Dromore16/02/04
360+ProtestantArea covering Rathfriland/Gilford/ Laurencetown/Scarva17/02/04
460+Roman CatholicArea covering Rathfriland/Gilford/ Laurencetown/Scarva17/02/04
The main positives of living in Banbridge are the range of nightclubs and bars, the fact that it is a friendly “non-sectarian” place and that there are good schools in the area. For Dromore residents, the people are generally friendly and their friends and relations live nearby. Those from Laurencetown and the surrounding area, see it as a nice area, with friendly neighbours, good housing and nice walks. Rathfriland is peaceful and quiet with friendly people.
The major negatives about living in Banbridge are the fact that there is not much for young people to do and there are lots of fights outside pubs and clubs at the weekend. Those from Dromore cite the lack of things to do and the fact that there is a lot of paramilitary activity. In Laurencetown, vandalism to property and attacks on cars are becoming more of a problem, while young people causing a nuisance was also highlighted by some, as it was in Gilford. In Rathfriland, traffic flow and the influx of “outsiders” to the area, coupled with the lack of activities for young people were the major problems. Those from the countryside highlighted the neglect of country roads, litter, and increasing burglaries in rural areas.
Other specific problems in Banbridge are drug dealing and drug use, especially in the clubs; underage drinking; and assaults (on weekends after pubs and clubs). Paramilitary activity was also a big problem to those from Dromore. For the older groups the main issues were a lack of respect among young people for people or property (generally); drugs and underage drinking; and speeding (especially through Laurencetown and Rathfriland).
Each of the groups feel that responsibility should be spread rather than lying with just one person or group of people. Younger groups felt that the peer group; council and local community; parents; and police all had roles to play. The older groups believe the main responsibility rests with the parents; with the police and community and council also having roles to play.
In terms of initiatives, respondents across younger groups generally feel that phased closing hours would not necessarily solve any problems, and also that CCTV was of limited benefit, although had the potential to be useful if used properly.
The younger groups feel that the police could deploy their resources much better. They could deal with fights much more effectively after clubs on Friday and Saturday nights in Banbridge, and could focus more on the major problems rather than on perceived less important matters. More police on the streets would also act as a deterrent. The older groups also believed a more visible police presence would act as a deterrent and reduce crime, while there needs to be more police to cover the whole district area. They also felt police should concentrate more on the major issues and that the courts should back the police up by imposing stricter sentences.
Awareness of DPPs in all groups was limited. One person in the younger groups had heard of DPPs, one or two were aware having heard of attacks on members reported in the press. One person knew some members of the DPP.
A full report on the focus groups conducted by MORI MRC on behalf of Banbridge DPP can be found in the document produced by Banbridge DPP entitled, “Consultation Report 2003”.
Informal Consultation
Members of Banbridge DPP consulted with individuals, groups, statutory and non-statutory agencies across the District on an on-going basis between March 2003 and February 2004. The role of local groups who had previously been the main channel through which local people raised matters relating to policing was highlighted to the Partnership on several occasions. Members worked hard to establish a relationship with those groups and support their key role in identifying local policing issues which Banbridge DPP could then look at in a strategic, District-wide context.