‘More nationalists are liaising with PSNI’ – Irwin
Newry & Armagh DUP Assemblyman William Irwin MLA has claimed that more and more people in traditionally nationalist areas like Newry & Mourne are now laising with police. Irwin was reacting after Newry Times broke the news yesterday that crime in the area had decreased by 4.7%.
Irwin commented, “It is good news that reported crime is down by 4.7% and I think we can establish that this does represent an actual decrease in crime. From attending meetings with police locally and through the DPP, the PSNI are proactive in their efforts to combat crime. Obviously there are crimes which go unreported and it is therefore difficult to judge to finest detail the levels of crime in any Policing District.”
He concluded, “Police in Newry have a major job in preventing terrorist related crime which requires a significant amount of resources and we have seen the success of this work in the foiling of bomb attacks in the City. Across the Province it is clear that in traditionally nationalist communities more and more people are liaising directly with the Police and if we transfer this model to Newry then there is no reason to suggest that fewer people are reporting crime in this area. Reporting crime is the only way Police can collate and study the figures and therefore direct resources where they are needed most, that is the case across the country.”
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