PSNI to close another police station

PSNI to close another police station

20 January 2016

BALLYNAHINCH police station is to be closed leaving Rowallane without a police base.

The nearby Saintfield, Crossgar and Killyleagh stations have all closed in recent years as part of a PSNI cost-cutting plan and the proposal to close Ballynahinch is to go before the Policing Board next month for approval.

The Ballynahinch base stopped being a 24 hour response station in July 2010 and was no longer open to the public but had been used as a base for the Neighbourhood Policing Team.

Over on the Ards Peninsula, Portaferry police station is also set to formally close after being shut to the public in 2014.

Back in 2011 it was revealed 40 per cent of police stations in Northern Ireland could shut as part of the PSNI rationalisation plan. The proposal to close Ballynahinch went out to public consultation in 2012, with the then area commander Chief Inspector Deirdre Bones saying it would cost nearly £0.5m over the next ten years to retain the base.

At the time some councillors argued that when transport costs between Downpatrick and Ballynahinch were considered, along with any alternative mobile unit, the station at the centre of a large rural community should be kept. Others argued that buildings themselves did not save lives.

At Thursday’s meeting of the Newry Mourne and Down Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP), which was not open to the public, it was indicated that Warrenpoint station in the Newry area was also to close.

It is understood Superintendent Simon Walls emphasised that both the Ballynahinch and Warrenpoint areas were served by an effective operational response and that it was not about a 

reduction in officers.

It is understood community engagement in some other format such as a mobile police unit is also to be considered.

Local councillor Terry Andrews said he had concerns about the proposals.

“For the first time ever my district electoral area of Rowallane will be without a police base,” he said.

“Several years ago we witnessed the closure of Killyleagh, Crossgar and Saintfield police stations. Now we have a proposal to close the base in Ballynahinch.

“I recognise that savings have to be made in budgets and monies found to keep services going, but with the closure of the Ballynahinch station it now leaves a wide swathe of the East Down countryside without a physical police presence. Residents will no 

doubt be very concerned at this latest proposal.

“At the same time PSNI officers are to be commended for their dedication and professionalism carrying out their roles.”

The proposal to close Portaferry police station was raised at a meeting of Ards and Down PCSP on Friday.

TUV councillor Stephen Cooper said he believed the station should be open on a part-time basis at the weekends.

He said he understood resources were concentrated in the larger towns in the area but that a response vehicle should be available to the Portaferry and Portavogie areas up to Greyabbey.

“If a car is in Bangor or Holywood it could take 30 minutes to respond,” he said.

Councillor Cooper said he and party leader Jim Allister were meeting with the chief constable to discuss concerns over both the police estate and the future of Northern Ireland’s courthouses.

The PSNI was asked to confirm and comment on the closure plans but declined to comment.