"Police arrests positive news for Larne"

Ulster Unionist Councillor Mark McKinty has welcomed news of a number of significant police arrests durimg the first week of the PSNI's Service First programme.

The most recent news saw police arrest and charge a man on suspicion of burglary and intent to steal after they responded to a call in the Lower Cairncastle Road area of Larne at the weekend. The man was arrested after the alarm system of a local school was activated on the evening of Saturday 26 October at around 10:30pm. The 29 year old man was arrested by response officers in the area a short time later.

He will appear at Ballymena Magistrates Court on 22 November 2013. As is normal procedure, all charges will be reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service.

Responding to the news, Cllr McKinty, also the Chair of Larne Policing and Community Safety Partnership, welcomed the news. "Last Monday saw the implementation of Service First within the PSNI's H-District. I am aware that there have been issues of community confidence within the community regarding the rolling out of this programme, however we should welcome the news that the PSNI is responding to emergency calls within Larne to an equal if not better standard than before".

"These police arrests are positive news for Larne. In the first week of Service First, 100% of emergency calls were responded to within 15 minutes, and it is important to recognise that there is no place for criminality of any sort in Larne. The PCSP will continue to work with the PSNI and other bodies to ensure that Larne is a safe place in which to live, work and socialise".

SF commitment to policing and community safety 'questionable' - McKinty

Larne Policing and Community Safety Partnership Chairperson Mark McKinty has called into question the dedication of SF representatives in supporting the Police.

 Speaking following recent comments from PCSP Member Cllr McKeown in the press, the Ulster Unionist representative said: "I am deeply disappointed, although not entirely surprised at Cllr McKeown's comments in last week's paper. His attitude is sadly indicative of Sinn Fein's appalling lack of support for local policing and community safety, and I would challenge their local representatives to seriously reconsider their dedication to a safer, more prosperous Larne."

"For Cllr McKeown to brand the PCSP as 'toothless' is a bit rich, given that it has been an age since he last attended a meeting of the partnership. There are certain issues of procedure which I inherited upon assuming the Chair of Larne's PCSP in June, yet I have worked hard to ensure that we are able to move forward in the interest of the people of Larne. In all that time, not once has Cllr McKeown darkened the door..."

"The setup of the PCSP is unique. In attendance at meetings are 10 elected representatives and 9 community representatives - from all walks of life - and representatives of the PSNI, including the local Chief Inspector, Inspector and Sergeant. Questions or concerns about community safety or local policing can be put directly to those who patrol our streets. Sinn Fein, of course, prefer to boycott meetings and report their concerns to the press."

"In addition, a number of other bodies also attend meetings, including the Housing Executive, NEELB, Department of Justice and Fire Service, allowing the PCSP and PSNI to plan strategically with the support and benefit of the experience which these representatives offer."

"I repeat my sentiments from last month: SF made lots of noise in 2012 to ensure that they were afforded a seat on the Larne PCSP, and I would now call on them to stop acting up to the press, to get serious about supporting policing and community safety in our area and urge their representative to turn up to meetings."

 

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1. Original article in which I challenged Oliver McMullan MLA to report crime to the police and not to the press:

 

2. Cllr James McKeown's response to my article: