New scheme to be rolled in Derry-Londonderry to tackle paramilitary activity

by Gráinne Connolly

A multi-million pound scheme called 'Building Capacity in Communities in Transition' is to be rolled out in Derry-Lononderry, to help clamp down on paramilitary activity, criminality and organised crime. 

It was announced last week at Derry City and Strabane District Council's Health and Community committee meeting. 

This announcement comes after a recent increase in shootings in the city, with most recently being that of a 44 year old man who was shot in the leg in the Madam's Bank area of Shantallow. 

4 days earlier a 17 year old was also shot in the leg in the Gartan Square vicinity in the Bogside. 

The project will have an initial budget of £12m across Northern Ireland and is being overseen by the Executive Office and Co-operation Ireland, whose Chief Executive is the former PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Peter Sheridan. 

It will be conducted as a Two-Phase Project, with Phase One to be completed by the end of February 2018.

In the first instance, particular focus will be given to those communities identified as particularly vulnerable to paramilitary activity and control in 8 areas identified across Northern Ireland.

One of the 8 areas listed as a focus point is Derry, Londonderry's Brandywell and Creggan.

Phase One will work as a 'fact finding' stage with research proposals for each of the areas in focus. 

They'll be looking at:

• forms of intervention
   
• priority issues in the area
   
• proposals to address physical manifestations of paramilitary activity
   
• Approaches to reduce recruitment to paramilitary organisations
   
• Transition plans for individuals 'stuck in the past' and who want to move on 
   
• Development of local communication approaches

Co-operation Ireland also recognised and stated: 

"We recognise the sensitive nature of this work and to ensure openness and transparency research teams will hand-write notes rather than digital record sensitive information.

"Any identifying information will be completely confidential. The research team agrees not to divulge, publish or otherwise make known to unauthorised persons or to the public any information obtained.

"Each transition plan will have an appendix included at the end, which will list all organisations (with their approval) that participated in the research.

"All notes will be the property of the project consortium and will be retained by the consortium lead partner at the completion of the project."