The SDLP and Crime - Every Cloud etc.

The SDLP were once a party I would have voted for without question. However it would appear to me that it has lost direction and no longer has people of the abilities of Hume or Mallon to encourage the loyalty and faith of the electorate.
To me a classic example of the state of mind of the SDLP is to be found in its reaction to crime clear up rates issued by the PSNI regarding burglaries in Newry and Mourne.
In a calander year (Feb 06-Jan 07) 367 domestic burglaries were reported and 24 were cleared up. This is a success rate of 6.53%. Now when I went to school, and it a few more years than I care to remember now, this % result would have been seen as abject failure, both by the school and my parents. But not if you are an SDLP member of the District Policing Partnership. Gary Stokes, for it is he, decribed this result as the PSNI getting "modest success" and wonders if the PSNI "let their guard down on occasions". This really is forceful criticism and I am sure will spur the PSNI on to take immediate action such is the fury of Mr. Stokes. I was of the belief that the SDLP joined the Policing Boards to hold the PSNI accountable, not to try to put a positive spin on its failures.With figures like these the PSNI may as well roll out the red carpet and put a sign up welcoming all burglars to our area.
I suppose Mr Stokes reckons we should be grateful that at least 24 were cleared up.

Warrenpoint CCTV and Gangs

I read with interest your report on the gang which gathered in Warrenpoint on 12th. March. I witnessed this gang and can describe their presence in Church Street and the Square as intimidating. The only saving grace is that the other gang from Newry did not arrive or goodness knows what the consequences for the town would have been. However the police comment that they found the town to be quite and that no damage or injuries were reported is slightly misleading. There may have been no injuries as the Newry gang did not arrive, but there was certainly damage. I have seen the damage that was done to at least one business premises on Church Street. The fact of the matter is that the owner did not consider it worthwhile reporting this matter to the police because he felt it would be a complete waste of time. The fact is that unless necessary for insurance purposes minor damage is not reported as the belief is that it will never be investigated.
Even more worrying is the belief that CCTV is seen as some sort of saviour for the town and is being promoted by some of our politicans as the greatest arrival since Christ's at Bethlehem. My fear is that CCTV will be used by the police as a further excuse to abandon the need to patrol the town as they will argue that CCTV is present. The question will need to be asked if this CCTV will be monitored on a full time basis so that problems can be identified and immediately dealt with (I suspect not) and secondly it must be obvious that in this age of the hoodie culture that it will be impossible to identify troublemakers - do they expect them to remove their hoods and scarves and smile to the cameras before they move on. CCTV is not the answer, what is needed is regular police patrols on the streets who are prepared to deal with anti social behaviour and not more excuses for the police to abandon the town to the gangs.


Newry Democrat 27/03/07