Chief Supt Stephen Cargin.
The number of crimes reported in the PSNI’s G District – Derry, Magherafelt, Limavady and Strabane – in the past year has dropped, according to the police commander for the area.
Chief Superintendent Stephen Cargin also said “clearance rates” were up and confidence in policing was above the Northern Ireland average for the 2013/14 financial year.
He said the pleasing figures were just not down to the police but were the result of a partnership involving police, statutory agencies, community organisations and people who wanted to see a safer place for all.
CS Cargin was speaking as the PSNI launched its policing plans for the year ahead.
According to CS Cargin, they set out the issues that have been identified as important to local people and how police will respond to them in providing personal, professional and protective policing to all in the community.
CS Cargin said: “No plan can fully reflect the wide range of activities police officers undertake every single day, but it does give a snapshot of our intentions in relation to some particular issues.
“With your support we want to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour, improve the satisfaction with the service you receive and protect vulnerable people.”
Chief Superintendent Cargin said that with the 2013/14 financial year just ended, figures indicated that the number of crimes reported in G District had reduced during that period; clearance rates were up and confidence in policing was above the Northern Ireland average.
He added: “These outcome do not come about by police acting is isolation. They are the result of a partnership involving police, statutory agencies, community organisations and people who want to see a safer place for all”.
He revealed plans for each of the four areas in G District have their own priorities, as agreed with the local Police and Community Safety Partnerships.
In Foyle, police will be working with the Police Community and Safety Partnership (PCSP) to develop initiatives aimed at reducing the number of burglaries, particularly those involving older/vulnerable victims.
Officers will also focus on the number of anti-social behaviour incidents and seek to develop joint initiatives with other agencies.
Another objective is to protect victims of hate-related crimes and those with a domestic motivation by increasing outcome rates.
Foyle officers will also work with the PCSP to develop an initiative to reduce the number of non-domestic violence crimes, with an emphasis on issues surrounding the night-time economy.
In Limavady, tackling burglary and increasing the number convictions will be an objective, as will a targeted patrolling profile to combat rural crime.
Police will also work to reduce the total amount of crime motivated by alcohol.
In Strabane, a reduction in anti-social behaviour is an objective, as is reducing burglaries and increasing patrols in rural areas.
Police also want to reduce the harm caused by drugs and increase operations to deter underage-drinking.
In Magherafelt, police are committed to reducing the number of thefts in rural areas and the number of crimes motivated by the misuse of alcohol.
Another objective is to increase the outcome rates of domestic crimes and to increase the number of drug seizures.
Road safety patrols and increased education about road safety will aim to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on local roads
Copies of the plans can be viewed on the website, www.psni.police.uk on the G District page under Priorities and Performance, which is a link at the right hand side of the page.
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