Killyleagh anti-crime drive given more council support

Killyleagh anti-crime drive given more council support

2 April 2014

A NEW initiative which has made a major impact on crime in Killyleagh has been given a lifeline by Down Council.

The district’s Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP), in association with local volunteers, has been running a Friday night youth club in the Bridge Community Centre for the past three months.

The scheme finished last week and the council was urged to provide a member of staff to open and close the centre on Friday evenings so it could continue.

The scheme, one of the key planks of Killyleagh’s anti-social behaviour plan, offered a range of classes and activities for young people, such as boxing, football, pool, music and make-up. Members also learnt about the dangers of carrying knives and guns and the consequences of speeding.

Ellen Brennan from the PCSP outlined evidence of the youth club’s positive impact at a Down Council committee meeting on Monday.

She said that in the three months before the scheme got underway in January there were 27 incidents of violence, 13 of criminal damage and 39 of anti-social behaviour. In the three months since the scheme started it had reduced to eight of violence, two of criminal damage and 29 anti-social behaviour.

A community survey also indicated the majority of local people felt the scheme was making a positive difference.

Sergeant Nigel Donnelly confirmed the scheme had a major impact on anti-social behaviour in Killyleagh.

“You do not have to look back far to remember the recent damage to the council’s public toilets, the continual damage to the rings at the Quay and the lights that were damaged,” he said.

Sergeant Donnelly said a statistician had compiled the crime figures quoted, which took into account incidents such as nuisance phone calls and incidents not necessarily involving young people.

“My own figures suggest a 50 per cent reduction in anti-social behaviour,” he said.

The work of volunteers at the centre was commended by councillors at the meeting with Billy Walker urging the council not to go “back to square one” in Killyleagh.

Terry Andrews said a major difference could be seen in some young people who were a “bit wayward” when they first joined.

Councillor Willie Clarke said: “It would be remiss of the council if we didn’t investigate the possibility of extra money to open up the Bridge Centre.”

The council’s Recreation committee voted to keep the Bridge Centre open on Friday nights with a member of staff.