1.2% reduction in crime across Derry City and Strabane district

by Gráinne Connolly

Derry City and Strabane's Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP) has welcomed a 1.2% reduction in crime across the district.

It was revealed after the PCSP met with the PSNI Senior Team on Monday, to discuss the District Commander's six month report for 2018/19 (April-September 2018). 

This figure represents 54 fewer victims of crime in the local area, compared to the six months prior to this period.

At the same meeting, members of the policing committee raised issues such as response times, engagement with victims, anti-social behaviour, drugs availability, hate crime and domestic and sexual violence. 

Speaking following the meeting, Alderman Mary Hamilton, PCSP Chair and Patsy McGonagle, PCSP Vice-Chair stated: 

“Today’s meeting of the PCSP Policing Committee was positive and constructive with police presenting their report on crime in the district for the first six months of this financial year.

"Officers advised us of progress against the targets set out in the Local Policing Plan for 2018/19.

"The members welcomed the overall 1.2% reduction in crime in the Council area over this period equating to 54 fewer victims of crime.

"Members also noted that ASB has reduced by 8.4% and the local police outcome rate of 30.7% is the highest across all 11 Council areas.

“Both PCSP members and PSNI acknowledged the positive partnerships and collective approach to tacking crime and increasing community safety in the district. 

"Police thanked the PCSP, statutory partners, community groups and indeed the general public for contributing to this encouraging reduction.

"Behind these statistics are victims and we will continue to work with the police to ensure that their needs are met and that PSNI, locally, continues to deliver positive outcomes for all our citizens.

"PCSP members reaffirmed their commitment to continue to support the police to tackle crime and also to monitor police performance in the coming year.

"Overall, the District Commander’s report for this period is positive but there is also a number of areas where we need to work to improve performance and members will continue to monitor these areas over the coming months.

"We would thank all the partners involved in making our communities safer places to live, work and visit and look forward to more positive outcomes in the coming months.”