South and East Belfast Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Sinn Féin continue work to with Lower Ormeau community and PSNI to tackle anti-social issue

Published: 18 January, 2009

Sinn Féin has continued to work with the local community and the PSNI to develop a strategy to tackle the rise in anti-social behaviour in the Lower Ormeau area. Following the recent, extremely well-attended vigil in the area, Party representatives have been working with local community leaders to keep the focus on this issue. As a result of a number of meetings with the PSNI they have pledged extra resources to the area and have developed a six-week strategy to work with the local community to tackle the rise in anti-social behaviour.


Speaking about the continuing work, South Belfast MLA Alex Maskey said,

"The turnout at the recent vigil held on the Lower Ormeau Road was proof of the anger and frustration within the local community at the dramatic increase in anti-social behaviour in the area.


"In the wake of this vigil Sinn Féin has continued to work with the local community to develop a strategy to tackle the rise in anti-social behaviour in the area. To this end we have held a number of meetings with community representatives and the PSNI.


"Along with community representatives we have demanded action from the PSNI in tackling the criminal elements in the area.


"As a result of these meetings the PSNI have informed us that they have redirected extra resources to deal with this issue. In recent weeks they have carried out regular bail checks on criminals in the area and community safety wardens have been brought into the area at weekends also. In addition to this the PSNI have a number of operations planned to pro-actively target criminals. We are given to understand that the PSNI have based this within a six-week plan which will be reviewed at the end.


"We intend, along with community representatives, to meet with the PSNI on a weekly basis to assess the progress of their operation and to ensure they maintain a focus on the area".


Alex Maskey added,

"The responsibility for tackling these problems, however, does not lie solely with the community, the PSNI, and politicians. There is a wider responsibility, and to ensure that this wider responsibility is met we have also spoken to Housing Executive. We are pleased to see that a house which has been at the centre of some serious allegations being repossessed and boarded up. This is a positive result of the community coming together and demanding that all those statutory bodies that have a responsibility in this issue do their jobs".


He concluded,

"Sinn Féin will continue to work with the local community to tackle this issue and to improve the quality of life of those living in the Lower Ormeau area. It is our intention to place a particular focus on the drugs problem in the area. In doing so we will continue to ensure that the PSNI and other statutory bodies live up to their responsibilities in tackling this issue".

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