Where Is Your Child Tonight? –
Partnership Wins Major Community Safety Award
A partnership between Craigavon Borough Council, the NIHE, Craigavon District Policing Partnership, (DPP) Craigavon Community Safety Partnership (CCSP) and the local community has won a national award - the Community Safety Project of the Year Award - in the recent UK Regeneration and Renewal Awards.
The “Where is your Child Tonight” campaign targeted parents with children aged 11-18 years raising thought provoking images around graffiti, underage drinking and drugs.
The high profile campaign which included billboards, posters, beer mats and bus rears depicted local young people in situations which could be described as “ every parents nightmare”
“Where is Your Child Tonight?” initially was targeted for the Lurgan/Brownlow area and was so successful that it broadened into a Borough –wide campaign by Craigavon DPP and CCSP making it more sustainable with a longer lasting effect and also helped to restore pride in the community by helping local people to help themselves.
Chair of Craigavon DPP and Craigavon Safety Partnership who were also funders of the initiative says, “ We’re delighted that the campaign has won this national award. It’s a great example of working in partnership with obviously the community, the various statutory agencies and young people themselves”.
Evaluation of the campaign shows that recall was high within specific groups with 83% of parents admitting that the message made them think about what their child was doing on any particular night.
The campaign was also used by neighbouring council area Banbridge Community Safety Partnership. Other councils including Newry and Mourne and Glasgow are considering it.
The Judging Panel was made up of leading Housing & Regeneration experts.
The Judges were looking for:
-Originality
-Impact on the Physical or Environmental Quality of a Place or Economic or Social Well Being of a Community
-Potential for Long Lasting Impact
-Objective Evidence of Effectiveness and Change
-Involvement of and Benefit to Local People
-Replicability
-Financial Viability
For more details please contact the DPP Manager on 028 3831 2587 or dppm@craigavon.gov.uk
Previous press releases
NEWS RELEASE
Thursday 18 May 2006
Public Meeting of Craigavon District Policing Partnership
There next Public Meeting of the Craigavon District Policing Partnership will take place at:
Millennium Court Arts Centre
William Street, Portadown
Thursday 1 June 2006 at 7.00pm
The meeting will focus on the PSNI’s performance over the entire financial year 2005-06. There will also be an opportunity for residents to raise local policing issues more generally, with both the DPP and the District Commander.
Chair of the DPP, Cllr Ignatius Fox said, “The public is showing a growing interest in the DPP public meetings. At the last meeting in the Seagoe Hotel on 26 April, there was real engagement between members of the public from the Enniskeen Estate and the District Commander on how to sort out a number of anti-social behaviour and crime issues in their area. I know that the local police inspector has subsequently met with local residents and they are working together to resolve a number of issues. This is what DPP work is all about.
“DPP meetings are also a good opportunity more generally for people to find out how the police are performing against the local policing plan, and for the community to give feedback on what the police should be focusing their resources on.”
These meetings are open to the public to attend and we welcome the attendance and participation of all the community.
Members of the public are invited to discuss their concerns about any aspect of policing with the District Commander, Alan Todd. They can also submit questions to him in advance of the meeting.
To do this, please contact the DPP Manager by Monday 22 May 2006, Tel: 028 3831 2587, Fax: 028 3831 2488, e-mail: dppm@craigavon.gov.uk
For more information, log onto www.districtpolicing.com/craigavon
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Notes to Editors
Press packs containing an agenda and a copy of the District Commander’s report will be available on the evening.
DPPs are required to hold a minimum of four regular public meetings to consider the District Commander’s quarterly reports. This is the second meeting of the year in this category. DPPs are also required to hold at least two themed public meetings. The first themed meeting was held at the Seagoe Hotel on 26 April. The second themed meeting is provisionally scheduled for December 2006.
You can contact Richard Cory-Wright, the DPP Manager, Tel: 028 3831 2587, Fax: 028 3831 2488, e-mail: dppm@craigavon.gov.uk
For more information, log onto www.districtpolicing.com/craigavon
30 May 2006
NEWS RELEASE
Local Policing: We need to know what you think – Craigavon DPP
The Chair of Craigavon District Policing Partnership (DPP), Councillor Ignatius Fox, has urged everyone who receives the latest Public Consultation for District Policing Partnerships survey to complete and return it by 19 June.
“Over the next few days the survey will drop through the letter boxes of 1 in 10 households in the Craigavon borough and is the biggest policing survey of its kind”, Councillor Fox said.
“This survey forms an important part of our work in finding out what the community thinks about policing and what they want from the Police Service. The results, along with other consultations we carry out throughout the year, also helps us to do that.
“Discussions with local groups, issues raised at our public meetings and other information all help to establish with the District Commander local policing priorities for the Borough.”
The survey is the only Northern Ireland-wide public attitude survey undertaken by the Northern Ireland Policing Board that can be broken down into the 29 District Command Unit areas. This enables the Board to get an overall picture of what people think, while at the same time, each DPP can use the local results and the answers to specific questions they have asked to gauge public attitudes in their area.
“To help ensure communities get the kind of policing they need and deserve, I really do urge everyone who receives the questionnaire to be part of the process, to fill it in and return it by the 19 June”, Councillor Fox said.
The issues that respondents felt were of the highest priority in Craigavon in the last DPP Public Consultation were - Underage Drinking, Young People causing a Nuisance, Domestic Burglary, Speeding, and Drug Dealing. The top priorities that respondents wanted to see more Police resources devoted were beat/foot patrols, crime prevention and prompt responses to emergencies.
As well as helping to determine local policing priorities, the results will also help the DPP to establish police performance satisfaction levels which the DPP also monitors on behalf of the community.
Supporting Councillor Fox’s call, Eamon Fleming, DPP Vice Chair, said, “Craigavon DPP was set up to give communities a real voice on local policing and I believe has become an important and accepted part of local policing, having brought policing closer to the community and the community closer to policing. The survey is part of that and I look forward to a good response rate from the public,” he said.
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For further information please contact Richard Cory-Wright, DPP Manager in Craigavon on 028 3831 2587
Notes to Editors
1. District Policing Partnerships Public Consultation
The 60,000 households were randomly selected from the Valuation and Lands Agency List of private addresses. The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency conducts the postal survey on behalf of the Policing Board and DPPs.
2. Core Questions and DPP Specific Questions
The 27 core questions asked by the Policing Board cover attitudes to policing priorities, police resourcing, satisfaction with local policing and knowledge/satisfaction with DPPs. They also ask what people feel are the biggest local policing priorities in their District. In addition to the core survey questions, DPPs were given the opportunity to ask specific questions that will be asked only in their district only.
3. District Policing Partnerships – General Background
The establishment of DPPs was one of the 175 Recommendations made by the Independent Commission on Policing for Northern Ireland. Set up by the Policing Board on 4 March 2003, in accordance with the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000 they were reconstituted on 2 December 2005.
The duties and responsibilities of each DPP are set out in Schedule 3 Part III of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000. Their role is set out in Section 16 and is to:
•Consult with the public to find out what issues in relation to policing and crime are of concern within the council district
•Identify local policing priorities arising from the consultation and recommend these to the District Commander so that they can be taken into account when the Local Policing Plan is being drawn up
•Monitor police performance against the objectives contained in the Local Policing Plan and the Annual Policing Plan as it relates to the district
•Engage with the community to obtain the co-operation of the public with the police in preventing crime
•Act as a general forum for discussion and consultation on all matters relating to the policing of the district.
4.The next DPP public meeting takes place at:
Millennium Court Arts Centre
William Street, Portadown
Thursday 1 June 2006 at 7.00pm
5. Craigavon DPP’s Members
Craigavon’s 19 member DPP has 9 Independent Members and 10 Political Members:
Independent Members
•Tony Elliott is a retired Teacher from Lurgan who has canvassed on behalf of the SDLP. He has served as an SDLP Counsellor for 2½ years
•Yvonne Sterritt is a homemaker and mother from Portadown and has canvassed on behalf of the SDLP.
•Phyllis Millington is a homemaker from Portadown.
•Tom French is retired and from Lurgan and has been reappointed to Craigavon DPP. Mr French has stood as a candidate in local, Northern Ireland and Westminster elections, and served as a local Councillor from 1978-1994. Mr French was the President of the Workers Party from 1996-2000.
•Grace Black is an Education Welfare Officer from Lurgan and has been reappointed to Craigavon DPP.
•Margaret Tinsley is a Human Resources Manager from Portadown and has been reappointed to Craigavon DPP. Mrs Tinsley has canvassed on behalf of the Democratic Unionist Party.
•Eamon Fleming is a retired Inland Revenue Officer from Portadown and has been reappointed to Craigavon DPP. Mr Fleming is affiliated with the SDLP.
•Hugh Casey, retired from Lurgan, has been reappointed to Craigavon DPP. Mr Casey canvassed for the Labour Coalition in the 1998 Assembly elections. He is a former mayor of Craigavon.
•Julie McNally is a Community Drugs and Alcohol Education Worker from Portadown and has been reappointed to Craigavon DPP.
Political Members
Cllr Sidney Anderson (DUP)
Cllr Ignatius Fox (SDLP)
Ald Samuel Gardiner (UUP)
Ald Arnold Hatch (UUP)
Cllr Mary McAlinden (SDLP)
Cllr Stephen Moutray (DUP)
Cllr Mark Russell (DUP)
Ald David Simpson (DUP)
Cllr Robert Smith (DUP)
Cllr Kenneth Twyble (UUP)
For more information on Craigavon DPP log onto:
www.districtpolicing.com/craigavon
POLICE LAUNCH NEW MULTI-LINGUAL CAR LEAFLET
Police in Craigavon are launching a new multi lingual 'Buying a car' booklet at Brownlow Station at 11am today (Wednesday 24th May). The booklet set outs the requirements in Northern Ireland to drive a car on the road and will be available in six different languages - English, Portuguese, Lithuanian, Polish, Tetum and Russian. The book was put together in Partnership with PSNI, STEP (South Tyrone Empowerment Programme) and DVLNI and addresses the legal requirements when purchasing a motor vehicle, insuring it, wearing seatbelts and of course the law relating to drink driving.
The leaflets will be available at Police Stations, Libraries and Public Buildings. In addition, they will also be distributed by local police officers in appropriate circumstances and anyone seeking a supply of the leaflets can contact their local police.
Craigavon District Commander Acting Chief Superintendent Alan Todd commented, "Today’s initiative is a further example of the PSNI working to make Craigavon safer for all our communities. This multi lingual leaflet addresses the rules and regulations required for anyone to drive a vehicle in Northern Ireland and recognises the increasing cultural diversity within the district and our obligation as police in delivering a service to all our communities."
Cllr Ignatius Fox, Chair of the DPP said, "I commend the PSNI and partners in Craigavon Borough for producing the ‘Buying a Car?’ leaflet in a number of community languages. It’s a useful and easy-to-rea d document that explains what the necessary documents and requirements are when buying and selling cars here in Northern Ireland. Each country has slightly different regulations and I can imagine when people come to a different country from their own, they aren’t always aware of what is required. This document will make a real difference to them. It’s also got some important road safety messages which need to be emphasised to everyone."
Photocall with the Commander Acting Chief Superintendent Alan Todd and DPP Chair Cllr Ignatius Fox and Sector officers at 11am on Wednesday 24th May.
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CRAIGAVON PSNI LAUNCH LOCAL POLICING PLAN 2006-7
15/05/06: District Commander for Craigavon Superintendent Alan Todd launched his local Policing Plan for the next year April 2006 - March 2007 today at Craigavon Civic Centre.
Speaking at the launch he said, "Some of the main objectives for police officers in the District during the incoming year will be to reduce the number of recorded crimes especially domestic burglaries and to improve the percentage of recorded crimes cleared particularly domestic violence, all hate crimes and drug offences, and to deal with anti social behaviour. These objectives will best be met with our officers working in partnership with the community and other organizations to make the Craigavon district a safer place for everyone."
Superintendent Todd continued, "The past year has seen a reduction in the number of violent crimes in the District and an increase in the clearance rate across the range of recorded crimes within the Craigavon area. Whilst this is extremely good news for members of this community, continued success of this nature will require a huge effort from police working with others and most importantly the support of the community.”
Cllr Ignatius Fox, Chair of the DPP said, "The DPP welcomes the new local policing plan for 2006-2007, particularly the targets being set for the Police arresting and charging more drug dealers. This is an area that the public has said to us is a major priority area. I look forward to receiving reports from the District Commander on how this and other targets are progressed."
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Previous press releases
2 May 2006
HEAD OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE INSPECTION TO MEET CRAIGAVON DPP
The Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice Kit Chivers is to meet with Members of Craigavon District Policing Partnership this Thursday (4 May).
Mr Chivers will give a presentation at a private meeting of the local DPP as part of on-going efforts to establish strong relationships with groups representing local communities that have an interest in the Criminal Justice system.
Speaking prior to the meeting, Mr Chivers said: “I am delighted to be able to meet the Chair of Craigavon DPP Cllr Ignatius Fox and the other members of the DPP and speak to them about the role of Criminal Justice Inspection (CJI) and the work being undertaken.”
“I hope the meeting will be both beneficial and informative for the DPP and for CJI,” he said, adding that he would be speaking to the DPP about the CJI’s upcoming inspection of Community Safety Partnerships.
“I also look forward to talking to the members of Craigavon DPP about the work we are undertaking locally as Craigavon Community Safety Partnership is one of four in Northern Ireland which we will be looking at in depth as part of this Inspection,” he said.
“CJI look at the Criminal Justice system through the eyes of its customers and are committed to encouraging continuous improvements in service to be made which will benefit everyone in Northern Ireland,” said Mr Chivers.
Craigavon DPP Chair Cllr Ignatius Fox said: “We welcome this opportunity to meet with Mr Chivers and to share with him our views on the relationship between our DPP and CSP. It is a very positive one, and with many Members being part of both partnerships, it provides a ready opportunity for communication.”
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A photographic opportunity will be available at Craigavon Civic Centre on Thursday 4 May when the Chair of Craigavon DPP, Cllr Ignatius Fox meets the Chief Inspector of CJI Kit Chivers prior to the start of the private meeting at 5.15pm.
Notes to Editors
CJI was established as a result of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement and the Criminal Justice Review 2000, which recognised the importance of Inspection as a tool for improvement and the benefits a single, independent inspection body could bring to Northern Ireland.
It has responsibility for carrying out Inspections of work undertaken by 20 separate agencies under the Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002. These include organisations such as the Police Service of Northern Ireland, Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Prison Service, Youth Justice Agency and Probation Board for Northern Ireland
Since it began work in 2004, it has undertaken a wide range of inspections including an Inspection of the Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and an Inspection of Forensic Science Northern Ireland in December 2005, a joint Inspection of Magilligan Prison with the Prisons Inspectorate in September 2004 and an Inspection of the Juvenile Justice Centre (Northern Ireland) in October 2004.
Three other Community Safety Partnerships in L/Derry, Belfast and Larne will be looked at in-depth along with Craigavon as part of the forthcoming CJINI Inspection.
For further information on Criminal Justice Inspection, please contact Meloney McVeigh, Media and Communications Officer, on 028 90 258013 or 07966 601324 or visit the CJINI website – www.cjini.org.
For further information on Craigavon DPP, please contact Richard Cory-Wright, DPP Manager on 028 3831 2587, richard.cory-wright@craigavon.gov.uk or visit the DPP website at www.districtpolicing.com/craigavon.
Previous Press Releases
2 March 2006
Craigavon DPP plans for the future
Craigavon District Policing Partnership held a very successful strategic planning workshop in the Lough Neagh Discovery Centre on 23-24 February to develop an action plan for 2006 and to devise a four-year strategic plan for the Borough.
Having canvassed the public on a number of occasions recently to seek their views and concerns on local policing priorities, crime prevention and community safety measures, the DPP has used these findings to help draw up their future plans.
One of the main priorities over the coming year will be developing the public profile of the DPP in Craigavon. The DPP will be aiming to get a clearer message into the community of who they are, and what are their functions and responsibilities. They will also be looking to get greater public input into what policing priorities should be, which will in turn influence the local policing plan.
With this in mind, DPP Members intend to accept invitations from any individual or group who wants to find out more about the work of the DPP. The DPP will also be looking at the best ways of engaging with young people, including using the internet.
Another clear priority will be to address race hate crime and attacks on the elderly.
“I am very pleased with the commitment by Members of the DPP over the two days of strategic planning,” commented Councillor Dolores Kelly, Chair of the DPP.
“It was a very useful session and provided us with a real opportunity to focus ourselves on finding ways to take our work more effectively to the wider community and to raising the public’s awareness and interest of policing issues.”
The next public meeting will be held on Thursday 2 March, at Mt Zion House, Lurgan, starting at 7 pm.
A themed public meeting to address race hate crime is scheduled for 26 April.
For further information on the DPP, contact Richard Cory-Wright, DPP Manager on 028 3831 2587 or log onto www.districtpolicing.com/craigavon
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Note for Editors
Craigavon DPP was established in March 2003 and has already carried out several high profile media campaigns, in association with the Community Safety Partnership and the PSNI, including drugs awareness and anti-burglary.
Front Row (L-R)– Acting Chief Inspector David Hutchinson, Yvonne Sterritt, Deputy Mayor Robert Smith, Chair Dolores Kelly, Vice Chair Eamon Fleming, Arnold Hatch, Jacqui O’Neill (Director of Development)
Back Row (L-R) – Phyllis Millington, Grace Black, Richard Cory-Wright (DPP Manager), Ignatius Fox, Ken Twyble, Tom French, Tony Elliott, Joe McVey (Facilitator)
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NEWS RELEASE
LAUNCH OF ANTI DRUGS POSTER CAMPAIGN CRAIGAVON DISTRICT
DEALING DRUGS? DON’T GET UP WE’LL LET OURSELVES IN.
30/01/06 - Craigavon District today launched an uncompromising Poster Campaign targeted against the drug dealers in the community with the following message:
“Drugs use can devastate people’s lives and cause untold damage to communities.
We know that the drugs markets in Craigavon District are closely linked to criminal and anti-social behaviour. The misery caused by Drug abuse is seen by the police every day and we want to help in tackling this problem.
We are working closely with the people whom live in the area, the District Policing Partnership and the Craigavon Community Safety Partnership. The cooperation and assistance of the local community has always been a significant part of any action taken against the drug dealers in our area. Together we have taken real strides in attempting to put these people out of business.
We need your help!! Tell us whom the dealers are, who works for them, how do they make their sales? By helping us you can help put the drug dealers out of business.
The community wants the police to knock on the drug dealer’s door. We intend to go straight in!! “
Craigavon PSNI District Commander Chief Superintendent Drew Harris said “ We want to send out an unequivocal message to the drug dealers in the community that their activities will be dealt with by police in a firm manner. Secondly we want to reassure the community in the District that we appreciate and share their concerns about the drugs trade. We want to demonstrate by these posters that their information is of value to us and we will act upon it to put the dealers out of business and seize the illegal drugs circulating in the community. I also want to thank our partners Craigavon District Policing Partnership, Craigavon Community Safety Partnership and the Crimestoppers charity for their support for this initiative.”
Commenting on the launch of the campaign Dolores Kelly MLA and chair of the Craigavon District Policing Partnership said:
"We want to emphasise that this is a campaign with the full support of the community. They have said to us that the issue of drugs is one of their highest crime priorities. I am very pleased that the Police, District Policing Partnership and Community Safety Partnership in Craigavon are working together on this matter to tackle the drug dealers in our community."
The posters will be prominently displayed on buses and advertising sites throughout the District from Wednesday 1 February. A booklet has also been produced for the information of residents and has already been distributed after police searches under the Misuse of Drugs Act.