Call for community support to tackle Downpatrick issue

Call for community support to tackle Downpatrick issue

24 February 2021

THE chairman of the Downpatrick Community Collective asked why the courts were not taking more action against the town’s troublemakers.

Mr Dan McEvoy said the same group of people have been involved in the trouble for almost two years and seemed to be getting away with continual bad behaviour.

He claimed while police officers are spending time preparing cases against individuals, the Public Prosecution Service was not taking action.

“This is very frustrating for all concerned,” declared Mr McEvoy. “The PSNI is not a baby sitting service and when police go to the Grove and St Patrick Centre the behaviour of those in anti-social behaviour stops, but when officers have to leave to respond to other calls, the trouble starts back up again.

“This is very frustrating situation for everyone and I believe that working in partnership is the only way we can realistically tackle the problem. The anti-social behaviour that we are currently experiencing is not new as we have had ongoing problems for the past few years, particularly around the St Patrick Centre and town centre area.”

Mr McEvoy said he believes the proposed new PCSP action plan could help with what many people want to achieve — an end to the trouble.

“I know there are things that we can do to stop youths getting into certain areas like English Street for example, an area subjected to more anti-social behaviour than others. The erection of gates has been suggested and this is a good idea,” he continued.

Mr McEvoy said he also raised concern about the visibility of the local council’s community safety wardens.

He said he had been given an assurance that the wardens were on patrol, particularly on Friday and Saturday evenings.

“I am sure the officers do good work but maybe we need to focus on what they are doing and liaise with police to make sure that they are being used as effectively as possible,” he suggested.

Mr McEvoy also highlighted the need for community support in dealing with the anti-social behaviour issue.

He added: “We need communities to support statutory bodies and elected representatives and that when the action plan is put into place, everyone plays their part to try and deliver it.

“Downpatrick has always had anti-social behaviour and it is not getting any better. The recent fire at the old Downe Hospital site has brought to the attention of the public what is going on. We need proactive action taken.”

Community Collective member Pat McGreevy highlighted the need to ensure that the town centre trouble did not escalate and for various agencies to work together to ensure that those involved in anti-social behaviour “do not go on to bigger and bolder things”.

Mr McGreevy said a partnership approach involving key players was essential, suggesting that some in the community may be prepared to become neighbourhood watch co-ordinators.

“If you have these things working together there is a good chance that issues can be caught early on and I hope that in relation to recent incidents there are thorough investigations and prosecutions which can start to de-escalate the recent sequence of events.”

Another Community Collective member, Macartan Digney, highlighted the need to understand the young people involved in the trouble and to work with them, suggesting work to educate them about steering clear of trouble should start in school.