North Down District Policing Partnerships

Your Police Service
Your Community
Your Say

North Down DPP would like to know your views on crime and policing in North Down. What is your greatest concern / where do you believe Police resources should focus on. Please send us your views by clicking on the link -DPP Manager

A specific remit of North Down DPP is to provide views to the PSNI Area Commander and to the Policing Board on any matter concerning the policing of the Borough.

Following reconstitution in 2008 North Down DPP established 2 sub groups with specific areas of responsibility as contained in the Strategic and Operational Plans for the Partnership. A Community Sub group was established with the remit to undertake Secondary Consultation, Gaining Co-Operation of the Public, Acting as a forum for discussion and identify policing issues.

The Membership of that group was as follows:

Alderman Fitzsimons
Councillor Chambers
Councillor Graham
Councillor Henry
Councillor Hill
Mr Varkey Abraham
Mrs Eileen Bell
Mrs Karen Keers
Mr Dave McCullough
Mrs Isabelle Weir
Mrs Lorna Anderson

NISRA SURVEY

The views of the community in policing were obtained through a Borough wide Community Survey carried out by NISRA in conjunction with the Northern Ireland Policing Board in February 2008. Over 71’500 households were selected throughout Northern Ireland. In terms of North Down 3379 questionnaires were issued and 709 returned, resulting in a response rate of 21%. This was the highest response rate in Northern Ireland and above the average 17%. However it was a reduction of the response rate of 27% in 2006 and 25% in 2004. According to the NI Census data, the population for North Down in 2001 was 76323. Therefore the respondents represent 0.9% of the population of North Down.

The DPP Manager informed Members that in terms of North Down 3379 questionnaires were issued and 709 returned, resulting in a response rate of 21%.

In terms of the single biggest problem within the North Down area, 21% of respondents indicated that they felt this was domestic burglary a decrease on the 24% in 2006 and the 28% expressed in 2004. Domestic burglary was also the greatest concern across Northern Ireland with a slightly lower figure of 16%.

The second biggest problem was young people causing annoyance at 13%. This was in contract to 2006 and 2004 in which the second biggest concern was assaults. In North Down assaults were the fifth biggest concern beside drug dealing and speeding. Northern Ireland wide the second biggest concern was young people causing annoyance.

The third highest concern was dangerous and careless driving and underage drinking with 8% each. Again this is the same priority order as the Northern Ireland wide survey.

The question was put in terms of which activity did members of the community think that the Police within the Borough of North Down should be concentration most resources on. 36% of respondents indicated that they felt that resources should be concentrated on beat/foot patrolling.

In terms of satisfaction levels with policing within the Borough of North Down, 30% of respondents were satisfied. When asked if they had any contact with the police in the previous year 28% responded yes. When asked if they knew the names of or recognise Police officers in their area, 5% responded yes.

When asked if they would engage with Police 87% responded positively. A further question was asked as to reasons people stop from engaging with police, 20% believed that it was lack of confidence in the police followed by 14% of people surveyed said that is lack of Police responses.

With regards to District Policing Partnerships 79% of respondents indicated that had heard of DPP’s. In connection with satisfaction of local DPP’s, 11% felt their DPP was doing a good job. In response to the question of weather members of the public knew how to contact their District Policing Partnership on 22% of those responded knew how to contact their DPP.

When asked if they knew who the members of their local District Policing partnership were, 86% of respondents indicated no. In terms of feeling safe within the community 76% felt fairly or very safe and 20% felt unsafe.

When asked if they thought the use of CCTV cameras in Bangor and Holywood town centre would reduce the level of crime and lead to the feeling of greater safety amongst the public, 71% responded yes.

When asked if they had heard of the concept of Community Restorative Justice 39% did not support the scheme.

The question was asked what the community believed contributed to anti social behaviour, 56% answered underage drinking, 18% answered lack of facilities for young people and 13% answered to lack of Police action.

SECONDARY CONSULTATION EXERCISES AND FOCUS GROUP WORK

Through analysis of the NISRA data a number of areas were identified which required further consultation to ensure to the results were reflective of the entire Borough, specifically

Women
16-24 age group
Representatives from the 9 dimension of Section 75.

North Down DPP also undertook to consult with as many members of the community as possible in accordance with its consultation strategy.

As part of its secondary consultation process correspondence was issued to over 800 organisations held on a DPP database. Community groups and organisations were asked to contact the DPP Manager if they wished to discuss their concerns on crime and policing in North Down. A large number of responses were received and a number of subsequent meetings held.

All of North Down
Soroptomists International
Northern Ireland Housing Executive
Civil Service Retirement Fellowship
Simon Community
Institute of Advanced Motorists
North Down Sports Advisory Committee
Bangor Road Safety Committee
HomestartSupport Awareness Drugs Initiative (SADI)
Bangor Art Club
Bloomfield Shopping Centre
Lady Hermon
Probation Board

Abbey area
FehertyTravel
Bloomfield Community Association

Ballyholme & Groomsport area
Evergreen Club
Ballyholme Parish Mothers Union
Ballyholme Residents
Ballyholme Probus

Bangor West area
Helens Bay Neighbourhood Watch & Residents Association
Craigdarragh Neighbourhood Watch Co-Ordinator
Bangor West Probus
Kilcooley Survey including Keep Safe

Holywood area
Holywood Women’s Institute
Recon Group
Habinteg
Public Discussion Forum in Redburn and Loughview
First Non Subscribing Presbyterian Church

Older Persons
Thursday Club
Chest Heart & Stroke Association

Young People
Barnardos
St Andrews Boys Brigade
Bangor Academy and Sixth Form College

Persons with a Disability
Bangor Deaf Club
Carers Forum
AMH Promote Action
Omnibus Group

Persons of different Ethnic Origin
Bangor Malaylee Association
Public Discussion Forum on Diversity

Persons of different Sexual Orientation
GLAD

In total North Down DPP undertook secondary consultation with nearly 700 members of the community in North Down through over 40 organisations.

On reflection of the comments received from NISRA, and the secondary consultation undertaken by North Down DPP the priority areas for the 2008/2009 policing plans should include:

Anti social behaviour/youths causing annoyance/underage drinking
Domestic burglary
Roads Policing
Assaults
Criminal damage

The DPP Manager also informed Members that in terms of resources it was agreed that North Down District Command Unit resources should also focus on:

Beet/Foot patrolling
Prompt response to emergencies
Crime prevention
Investigating crime
Increased involvement with young people

Click here for a copy of the 2008 Public Consultation Report
Click here for a copy of the 2008 NISRA Report for North Down

Community Consultation