Time for a separate City Centre Police Unit says McGimpsey
At the moment Belfast is divided up into four different policing sections, known as District Command Units: North, South, East and West with each area allocated a full-time quota of around 250 police officers. However in the South Belfast DCU the City Centre is added in.
Ulster Unionist South Belfast MLA Michael McGimpsey is calling for a separate and dedicated DCU for the city centre.
In a statement Mr McGimpsey said,
“Over the past two years South Belfast has registered almost double the crimes than any other part of the city. These figures reveal much about the unique conditions which exist within the area. The City Centre, with all of its shops, pubs and restaurants is naturally busy. With so many people concentrated in a relatively small area the crime figures will of course be higher.
In other parts of the United Kingdom the demands of policing the commercial centres and nightspots require a separate approach.
I believe it is time for the city centre to have its own dedicated DCU with its own manpower, so as to avoid resources being severely overstretched in other parts of South Belfast. The demands of city centre policing are bleeding the rest of South Belfast of a proper and meaningful police presence. The people in South Belfast are being neglected.
There is no reason why the PSNI should not create a dedicated command unit targeted specifically to operating within the commercial and retail heartland of our capital. This would ensure the best possible policing option for the city, and south Belfast residents.
I would call on other parties to put their money where their mouth is and back my call.”