Larne District Policing Partnership have over the last 12 months participated in a wide spectrum of comparative events which centered on building a strong relationship with the PSNI, the Community Safety Partnership, Emergency Services Members of the Public and other agencies.
In February 2006 our Members took part in their two-day induction course, this set the criterion for the expectation of Larne DPP to deliver on the functions of the Partnership in the coming months.
The District Policing Partnership very much supported the launch of the "Message in a Bottle" scheme in February 2006. This is a multi-agency initiative whereby vulnerable or elderly members of the public are provided with a bottle/container which holds important information about themselves, such as medication, emergency contact numbers and so on. In the unfortunate event of an emergency these details may prove vital. Stickers are displayed in a strategic site in the home, making the Emergency Services aware that the householder is part of the scheme. This has proved to be very successful, with a high percentage of the public availing of the service.
Another Multi-Agency initiative in which Larne DPP were involved was the "Bee Safe" scheme. This time the focus was on the children of the Borough. The two-day event took place in March 2006 and was developed by agencies such as the PSNI, DPP,Larne Borough Council, Community Safety Partnership and the Emergency Services. The aim of the scheme was to promote and educate children on safety both in the home and in all other aspects of their lives. Over 200 children from schools throughout the Borough attended the event over the course of the two days.
Members of our Partnership also attended a Community Safety Development Day in March 2006. This was very much a learning curve for the DPP and helped to further strengthen an already strong relationship with the Community Safety Team.
In April 2006 the DPP Manager along with independent and elected Members attended a Study Trip to Glasgow after an invitation from the Community Safety Partnership Co-ordinator. The purpose of which was to examine how Partnerships in other areas work, with the aim of gathering ideas and incentives used in order to help maximise the functioning of Larne District Policing Partnership.
The Partnership have been proactive with Larne Community Safety Partnership in the development of Neighborhood Watch Schemes across the Borough. To date Larne has 2 fully operational Schemes, in the Riverdale and Kitchener's Avenue areas of the town. There are currently 4 more new schemes being developed throughout different neighbourhoods in Larne.
Representatives also attended, in May 2006 a Sectarian/Cross Community based play entitled "Singing I'm no a Billy He's a Tim". This invitation was extended by Sgt Gary McMaster of Larne PSNI Community Relations Team in the hope that the Partnership may further promote the play in the near future. This is something that the Partnership are considering. The play explores bigotry and ethnic identity, when on the day of an "Old Firm" match a Celtic and Rangers fan are locked together in a police cell. The play has a comic theme with a serious note and explores these themes in a way familiar to the audience. Held in St.Comgall's College, Larne, over 200 secondary school aged children attended, coming from local schools, from a cross section of the community. Workshops were held after the play for pupils, teachers and guests, which Stephen Burns, Larne DPP Manager attended. The Larne District Policing Partnership would like to thank Sgt Gary McMaster and the Community Relations Team at Larne PSNI and a special word of thanks and appreciation to the staff and pupils of St. Comgall's College for the generous welcome extended. Of course a mention must also go to the producers of "Singin I'm no a Billy He's a Tim", Dapper Productions UK Limited, we wish them luck with their production, not that it is needed. We would encourage anyone to grasp the opportunity to go and see this very poignant, enjoyable play.
Now for a bit of fun! In June 2006 the PSNI invited members, as a team building excercise, to Steeple Barracks in Antrim where they had the opportunity to put their driving skills (or lack of in some cases) to the test on the PSNI "Skid Pan". Those Members lucky enough to be able to attend had a very enjoyable morning at the Barracks where not only did they get a chance to drive like Nigel Mansell they were also shown methods of drink/drug detection used by the PSNI. The Partnership extend their thanks to the PSNI not only in Larne but also to the team at Steeple Barracks for a very enjoyable though educational morning. Unfortunately we must apologise to the Barracks for a very unfortunate incident, whereby their car broke down whilst being driven by one of our elected members, who seemed to take a dislike to the clutch and so completely obliterated it!! Of course we would never mention names but he knows exactly who we are talking about.
The Partnership were honored to be involved in the Special Olympics Torch Run. The "Torch" was run through Carnlough in June, carried by local members of the Special Olympics Team, accompanied by the PSNI and An Gardai Siochana. Over 250 local school children turned out on what was a wet and windy morning to welcome the Team as did Members of Larne Borough Council. Spirits were not dampened in the slightest by the wet weather and the morning was rounded off by the biggest conga dance Carnlough has ever seen!!
The Partnership would like to congratulate the local Members of the Special Olympics Team for their many great achievements. The Team are:
- Roy Hughes
- Timothy McDowell
- Linzi Craig
- Issac Dobbin
- Craig Johnston
- Philip Gilbert
- Jack Johnston
- Jonathon McAuley
THANK YOU ALL FOR MAKING LARNE PROUD!!