The strength of a DPP is that it provides a unique opportunity, through a partnership between elected members and the community, for local people to shape local policing. The DPP facilitates dialogue between the police and the local community. This is achieved by the following:
- Identifying local policing issues and views to the District Commander on any matter concerning the policing of the district
- Establishment of policing priorities for the local Policing Plan in conjunction with the District Commander
- Monitoring the performance of the police in carrying out the local Policing Plan
- Monitoring the performance of the police in carrying out the relevant aspects of the Annual Policing Plan
- Obtaining the views of the public concerning the policing of the district
- Obtaining the co-operation of the public with the police in preventing crime
Members of the public are welcome to attend all public meetings of the DPP, which offer the opportunity to observe the PSNI District Commander's response to questions posed by DPP members. Magherafelt DPP holds bi-monthly public meetings. These meetings are held in different venues throughout the district to make sure that as many people as possible have the opportunity to attend. They are also advertised in the local press. The DPP members may also hold private meetings before the public meetings.
Members of the public have also the right to ask questions of the police, through the Chairman of the DPP. The process for doing this is to submit a written question to the DPP Manager who will bring the matter before the next public meeting of the DPP.
The DPP welcomes questions from any person living or working in the district or any person directly affected by the policing of the district. As far as is practical all questions received by the DPP will be presented at a public meeting, unless legal or other specific reasons prohibit their presentation to the meeting.
Alternatively any member of the public or any organisation may choose to ask a member of the DPP to raise an issue or ask a question on their behalf.