Killyleagh residents call for police patrols in town

Killyleagh residents call for police patrols in town

22 May 2019

RESIDENTS in Killyleagh have called for increased police patrols to curb anti-social behaviour.

The call was issued at a public meeting in the town last week attended by representatives from the PSNI, the district’s Policing and Community Safety Partnership, County Down Rural Community Network, Housing Executive and Newry, Mourne and Down Council.

A number of residents expressed concern about a spate of recent trouble, in particular, attacks on the town’s 

Integrated Primary School which has been targeted six times since the start of the year.

A call was also issued for a successful Friday night youth club, which was forced to close due to funding difficulties, to be restarted.

When the club was in operation, there was a dramatic increase in the number of reported anti-social behaviour incidents in the town. Residents believe that if funding could be secured to restart the youth club, it could have a similar positive impact.

Rowallane councillor Billy Walker, who organised last week’s public meeting, said he was pleased with the number of residents who attended alongside representatives from a number of statutory agencies.

“The meeting provided an opportunity for residents to outline their frustration at the recent trouble and the impact it is having on the town,” he revealed.

“Police officers who were in attendance also thought the meeting was a worthwhile exercise as it provided residents with an opportunity to have their say and discuss the way forward. Officers were able to hear first hand the views of residents who are keen to see increased weekend police patrols in particular.”

Cllr Walker said the “time for giving troublemakers a slap on the wrist” was over and hoped anyone with information about who may have been involved in the recent trouble will pass it on to the police.

“Residents are rightly very frustrated, but I hope last week’s meeting has provided a platform to build on. The issue of the youth club, which was a major success and provided an outlet for young people at the weekend, was raised by a number of speakers. I 

will be doing what I can to see if the funding required to relaunch it can be provided,” he continued.

“Such a move would require the support of the local council to extend the opening of the Bridge Community Centre and I hope that this will happen.”

Cllr Walker said he hopes to arrange a meeting with the Killyleagh Community Association, elected representatives and local council officials to discuss relaunching the youth club.

“Policing is a major issue for some people and the problem we have is that there are limited police resources,” he explained. “People want to see more robust patrolling in Killyleagh and I hope that this happens.

“When the town’s police station closed a number of years ago the PSNI deployed a mobile police base in the town on a number of occasions. It has not been seen for some considerable time and I believe the powers-that-be should do what they can to bring it back.”

Cllr Walker said residents did not want Killyleagh’s image tarnished by unruly youths and appealed to parents to keep a tighter rein on their children.

He said the trouble at the primary school was believed to have been carried out by youths who had been congregating in a nearby derelict property.

“I have spoken to the owner of this particular building who has agreed to demolish it and hopefully this will help reduce the trouble in this part of the town,” he said.

Cllr Walker also revealed that Housing Executive officials have explained that parents who occupy social homes could potentially be evicted if their children are found guilty of causing trouble in the town.

He added: “The bottom line is that this trouble must end. Unruly behaviour has no place in Killyleagh. Some elderly people are living in fear and we need to address this trouble before it gets worse.

“Parents have an important role to play in helping steer their children away from trouble which could potentially result in them ending up with a criminal record.”