DPP survey highlights local policing concerns
Wednesday, 3 September 2008
NEWTOWNABBEY District Policing Partnership (DPP) has published the results of the latest DPP Public Consultation Survey, which will be used by the DPP and PSNI to help shape the future policing priorities in Newtownabbey Borough.
The survey, which was sent to 3444 households in the Newtownabbey Borough Council area, asked people to prioritise the policing issues about which they are most concerned, and to select the policing activities that they would like to see the police in Newtownabbey concentrate most resources on.
Speaking about the survey's findings, DPP Chair, Councillor Tom Campbell said: "I would like to thank everyone who took the time to complete and return the survey. This questionnaire, together with the other consultation and engagement work carried out by the DPP throughout the year, provides us with vital information on what local people want from the Police Service.
“The results also provide information in relation to the standard of service respondents were with the service they received from the police. The information that the survey provides will help us, along with the District Commander Chief Inspector Paula Hilman to formulate the policing priorities for Newtownabbey in the Local Policing Plan."
He added: "Through the DPP, the community has a real voice on policing in Newtownabbey. The DPP is about allowing local people to shape local policing and, by completing this questionnaire, members of the public have ensured that their views will be considered by the DPP and PSNI as we plan how the district will be policed."
Across the district, respondents highlighted Anti Social Behaviour as the biggest policing problems in Newtownabbey with 'Young People Causing Annoyance' ranked as the main policing problem followed closely by 'Underage Drinking' and 'Vandalism'.
These three problems were followed by 'Domestic Burglaries' and 'Speeding' making the top five identified problems similar to the previous survey conducted in 2006.
At the same time, the results show that the public feel local Police should be concentrating most resources on : Beat/foot Patrolling; Crime Prevention; Prompt Response to Emergencies, Investigating Crime and Increased Involvement with Young People, again these results were similar to the 2006 survey.
In terms of the level of satisfaction with policing generally in the borough, 29% were satisfied with the service provided whilst 26% were not. The bulk of respondents (42%) were neutral on this issue.
Police visibility was identified as a major cause of concern with only 10% of respondents saying they were satisfied as opposed to 55% who were not.
If you would like to find out more about the survey findings you can download the results from the Newtownabbey DPP website at www.districtpolicing.com/newtownabbey. Or by contacting the DPP manager, Campbell Dixon at the council civic headquarters, Mossley Mill, telephone 90340011 or email; cdixon@newtownabbey.gov.uk
