McGinn: “Communities can help prevent crime through Neighbourhood Watch”

Fews area Sinn Féin Councillor Pat Mc Ginn has said that schemes such a ‘Neighbourhood Watch’ are an effective example of how communities can come together to help fight crime.

The elected representative was speaking following discussions with PSNI, Community Safety, Crime Prevention, Housing, and Council representatives to discuss recent criminal incidents in the Lurganare and Glen area.

“The most recent attack on a home and its elderly residents has left the community in the area fearful. There has been a commitment from the various agencies to do all they practically can to help make people feel safer in their homes I believe that a setting up of a Neighbourhood Watch in the locality would not only prevent crime but also the fear of crime and generally improve the quality of life of those in the area,” he said.

Councillor McGinn continued, “Neighbourhood Watch involves neighbours looking after each other – keeping ‘an eye’ on each other’s houses while neighbours are on holidays, watching out for suspicious activity, reducing burglaries, vandalism and helping older people and the community feel safe in their homes. Effective Neighbourhood Watch schemes will help reduce crime and antisocial behaviour in the local area as well as making members of local communities feel safer in their homes.”

The Councillor appealed for anyone who wished to learn more information about the schemes which are a partnership between the police and local communities supported by the local Community Safety Partnership and District Policing Partnership, to contact the Community Safety Manager or project Support Officer Newry and Mourne Community Safety Partnership at 028 3031 3052.

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Posted by Declan McAteer on Mar 12 2012. Filed under Community. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry