Police crackdown to come after trouble

Police crackdown to come after trouble

2 October 2013

POLICE are to get tough with teenage troublemakers in Killyleagh.

The warning was issued at a public meeting in the town last week when it was revealed that anti-social behaviour problems were the main concerns highlighted by residents during a recent community safety survey.

A variety of factors are being blamed on a small number of teenagers getting embroiled in trouble, ranging from underage drinking to lack of parental control.

It was explained during the meeting at the Bridge Community Centre that some of the teenagers causing trouble are running about in hoodies and are sometimes wearing masks to hide their identity.

While those in attendance made it clear that the vast majority of young people in Killyleagh are not involved in trouble and are model young citizens, there’s a hardcore who are not.

PSNI Sergeant Nigel Donnelly said anti-social behaviour is a problem in Killyleagh and he shares the concerns of residents who want the issue addressed.

He said young people are causing trouble at a number of locations, ranging from the play park at the community centre to the public toilets at High Street.

In a bid to get on top of the issue, Sgt. Donnelly said the PSNI plans to hold the parents of those engaging in trouble to account.

“We plan to speak to parents and, if the trouble continues, refer them to Social Services. I do not want young people in Killyleagh to end up with a criminal record, but they have to learn respect,” he continued.

“If we need to bring in other agencies to hold parents to account then that is what we will do. A number of activities have been organised for young people in the town at night and credit goes to the people behind these initiatives.”

Sgt. Donnelly also backed moves to form a new community group in the town to provide local people with a voice and a platform to highlight what is good about Killyleagh.

The PSNI officer said he believes a new CCTV system in the town, which will result in the provision of seven cameras, will help in the fight against anti-social behaviour by identifying troublemakers.

He also urged anyone with information about young people involved in trouble to provide it anonymously using the Crimestoppers charity number. Sgt. Donnelly said information could also be relayed to police via the town’s proposed new community group.

“There are ways people can pass information to police and I would encourage them to use these to help address the problems in Killyleagh,” he added.

Resident Brigeen Henderson told the meeting there are a lot of decent kids in Killyleagh and that a small core group is responsible for the trouble in what is a close-knit town. It was a view echoed by Mark Quigley of Killyleagh YC Football Club who said it’s wrong to tar all the young people in the town with the same brush.