Bins set alight at Moss Park in Galliagh last weekend
POLICE in Derry are to review their resources in Galliagh in a bid to stem the tide of anti-social behaviour in the area.
Such as the level of rise in crime residents have set up the Galliagh Community Empowerment in a bid to try and turn away young people from crime.
But despite their great efforts, some youths will not be spoken to and continue to terrorist the neighbourhood
Last Friday night, bins were set on fire and criminal damage was caused to a property at Moss Park.
A window in a flat was smashed with a two week old child inside.
A young mother said she was “terrified” after her partner was attacked outside their home in Moss Park on Friday when he went remonstrate.
The police arrested four people, two men and two youths for criminal damage, theft and arson.
“It is cold comfort to the victim, but at times we do have demand and that does affect our response,” said PSNI Inspector Johnny Hunter.
The attack on the woman’s partner happened after he tried to stop a group setting bins on fire, said the woman, who did not want to be named.
She told BBC Radio Foyle: “We looked out the window and saw the road on fire.
“The second fellow came over, he lifted a glass bottle off the railings.
“The third time he swung it he let it go and they pulled him (her partner) to the ground as they got into the garden.
“I was standing screaming: ‘There’s a baby in here, please stop!’
“But they wouldn’t listen to me and that’s when the neighbours came out,” she added.
“When we got into the flat we put the table against the door. I was shaking. I was terrified.”
The woman said she, her partner and their two-week-old baby would not return to their home.
The family were also critical of the police response to the attack.
“I can understand from her perspective,” said Insp Hunter. “She has suffered a very traumatic and very, very serious incident.”
“We will be reviewing that (rise in anti-social behaviour) and we will be reviewing our police deployment in the area.”
Police response time suffered in areas where there was an ongoing dissident republican paramilitary threat, said Insp Hunter.
“It’s not something for us to hide behind and use as an excuse but there is no doubt that it is a prime consideration when you receive a call,” he said.
“Recent instances in Galliagh include a device thrown at police and the find of munitions, so there is no doubt it does affect our response.
“But it’s not a reason for us not to respond.”
The Galliagh Community Empowerment, a local resident’s group, has called for an end to the wanton destruction of property in the area by criminal elements.
Burned out car on Skeoge Road last month