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West Tyrone UUP Assembly Candidate Derek Hussey today slammed proposals in relation to the creation of new police districts based on the idea of the new 7 super councils envisages by the Review of Public Administration.

In a statement Mr Hussey said,

“The immediate implementation of 8 massive District Command Units (DCU) based on the proposed 7 council structure creates an administration, which, at the present time, will isolate all of our present councils.

“The Assembly will have an impact on this particular review and it is quite clear that political parties within Northern Ireland, with the notable exception of Sinn Fein, favour a model between 11 to 15 councils.

“The PSNI have made it quite clear that, regardless of the views of a new working Assembly, new DCU’s will be created on an 8 model administrative basis.

“Such a rush to create these units, from 1ST April this year, represents unnecessary haste. Surely it makes sense for current DCU’s based on the present 26 existing councils to remain active until a final configuration of Northern Ireland’s councils is established if the Police Service is genuinely interested in local input.”

Concluding he said: “A shadow DCU system could be implemented in October 2008 in line with agreed proposed local authorities. This cash-led streamlining is not necessarily good for the public, for the police of for District Police Partnerships all of whom will be left further away from the senior chain of command.”

West Tyrone UUP Assembly Candidate Derek Hussey today slammed proposals in relation to the creation of new police districts based on the idea of the new 7 super councils envisages by the Review of Public Administration.

In a statement Mr Hussey said,

“The immediate implementation of 8 massive District Command Units (DCU) based on the proposed 7 council structure creates an administration, which, at the present time, will isolate all of our present councils.

“The Assembly will have an impact on this particular review and it is quite clear that political parties within Northern Ireland, with the notable exception of Sinn Fein, favour a model between 11 to 15 councils.

“The PSNI have made it quite clear that, regardless of the views of a new working Assembly, new DCU’s will be created on an 8 model administrative basis.

“Such a rush to create these units, from 1ST April this year, represents unnecessary haste. Surely it makes sense for current DCU’s based on the present 26 existing councils to remain active until a final configuration of Northern Ireland’s councils is established if the Police Service is genuinely interested in local input.”

Concluding he said: “A shadow DCU system could be implemented in October 2008 in line with agreed proposed local authorities. This cash-led streamlining is not necessarily good for the public, for the police of for District Police Partnerships all of whom will be left further away from the senior chain of command.”

Ulster Unionist Victims Spokesperson Derek Hussey MLA has paid tribute to Interim Victims Commissioner Bertha McDougall, adding that her report today sets out a “comprehensive victims’ agenda”.

In a statement, the West Tyrone MLA said: “In a thorough report containing 36 recommendations, Bertha McDougall has outlined a positive and comprehensive victims’ agenda that stands in stark contrast to the petty partisanship of recent days.

“I trust that an incoming Northern Ireland executive will work speedily to implement her recommendations.

“The dignified and sensitive manner in which Bertha undertook the role of Interim Victims Commissioner has set exacting standards for her successor.

“On behalf of the UUP I would like to pay tribute to Bertha McDougall for her hard work in this area and I would like to wish her every success in the future.”

Ulster Unionist West Tyrone assembly member, and Spokesman on Victims’ Issues, Derek Hussey, has welcomed a Court decision not to ‘quash’ the appointment of Bertha McDougall as Interim Victims’ Commissioner and to allow the publication of her much-needed and long-awaited report into the needs of Victims.

In a statement, Mr Hussey said: “I have been privileged to meet many times with Bertha on victims issues both generally and in regard to individual cases. The Interim Commissioner has proved herself to be an ideal champion in this field and I have appreciated her sympathetic approach to the issues involved.

“Bertha McDougall has been tireless in her efforts to pull together all issues in regard to Victims and it is only but right that her report be published to assist in the taking forward of future provision for Victims and Survivors.”

Ulster Unionist West Tyrone assembly member, Derek Hussey, has welcomed the Department of Health’s decision to allow the public to have their say in regard to Trauma Services within Northern Ireland.

In a statement, Mr Hussey said: “There has been much public concern, particularly in the West, over the Health Service decision to centralize Trauma Services within Northern Ireland at the RVH in Belfast.

“While I welcome the department’s decision, this must not just be another cosmetic exercise. In the past the Department has undertaken ‘consultations’ in respect of various services provided in Counties Tyrone and Fermanagh but, despite the responses received, have continued along their own path leading to reductions in service provision.

“Omagh, and the Tyrone County Hospital in particular, is a clear case in point.

“When 30,000 plus people, supported by ALL of their elected representatives, took to the streets in Omagh in support of an acute service being retained at Tyrone County Hospital, a clear signal was sent to the Department of Health which was ignored by the Department and the then Minister, Shaun Woodward.

“The Department has already made clear their declared intention of centralising trauma cases in the Royal Victoria Hospital. Time is of vital importance in the treatment of extreme trauma cases and I am not convinced that lives will not be lost, particularly in the West, given the time needed to be transported to Belfast. The so-called ‘Golden Hour’ rule is being ignored.

“More than one-third of Northern Ireland’s population will be adversely affected if Trauma Services are to be dealt with solely in Belfast.

“If this consultation process is real and if the Department is going to listen to the genuine concerns of the people of Northern Ireland there will obviously need to be a minimum of two Trauma Centres. Certainly the Belfast would need to be one of these and obviously West of the Bann needs a Centre, probably sited in Londonderry.

“With siting of a centre of this type in Londonderry the relocation of some services, presently dealt with at Altnagelvin, would have to be considered.

“Obviously Omagh, as the next largest centre of population and growing, with regard to the Tyrone County Hospital specifically, would justify the transfer of such services currently undertaken at Altnagelvin.

“Omagh has a strong case for the retention and expansion of services and now is the time for the Department of Health to act for the good of all of us living in the West.”

Castlederg Councillor and Ulster Unionist West Tyrone Assembly member Derek Hussey has congratulated the PSNI on their investigations which led to the recovery of 60,000 cigarettes at Victoria Bridge this week and the detention of someone allegedly in connection with the incident.

Mr. Hussey said: “This trade in contraband items has to be stemmed and those responsible made accountable to the law.

”Many legal traders will welcome this latest police success in view of the harm it does to their business and, in the main, it is our small local shops that suffer loss of income through these illegal activities.

”Those who purchase such items also need to be aware that many of these items are below the standard that we would expect of properly sourced items.”

Mr. Hussey added: “Hopefully this latest success will help deter those who engage in this activity, or those tempted to do so to stop.”

Castlederg Councillor and Ulster Unionist West Tyrone Assembly member, Derek Hussey, says the timing and implementation of a Police Community Support initiative raises more questions than it gives answers.

The MLA said: “It would be churlish not to welcome any additional resources to the Policing of our community.

“However, the current establishment of the new Police Service of 7,500 Full Time Officers, includes 1,000 who are Part Time Officers and there are currently approximately 690 Full Time Reserve Officers still in the Service who remain on three-year contracts. So what guarantee is there of their future within the service?

“These are fully trained and experienced Police Officers with full police powers. The Chief Constable has admitted that they are an invaluable resource within the need of his Policing requirements. Not to mention those Officers who were allowed to part from the Service taking with them considerable knowledge and expertise.

“The agreed establishment of the Part Time Reserve has an upper limit of 2,500 Officers. To date this figure has reached approximately 1,000 and some District Command Units are not permitted to commence recruitment of new Part Time Officers within their areas.

Surely Officers with proper policing powers would be more valuable than Community Support Officers with extremely limited powers?

“Most citizens will say that there is a shortage of Police resources in their own areas. Current constraints on the Police Service still allow for this manpower shortfall to be addressed.

“The Police Service is subject to a set budget - if the PCSO initiative goes ahead, it will be paid for from within the Service’s current budget - what are the implications in regard to ongoing recruitment/retention and training of additional Regular and Part Time Officers?”

Mr Hussey concluded by adding: “I believe that only when the permitted establishment of the Police Service is fully achieved should consideration be given to initiatives such as the introduction of Community Support Officers, to address perceived and actual identified additional requirements to the policing needs of our community.”

Ulster Unionist Victims Spokesperson Derek Hussey has voiced his concerns that recent events have created uncertainty over the future role of the Victims Commissioner.

In a statement, the West Tyrone MLA said: “We deeply regret that one of the more positive actions taken within the last few years to help victims has been turned into a political football.

“Uncertainty now surrounds the future of the Victims Commissioner – which is deeply distressing and upsetting for victims groups.

“No future commissioner should be hamstrung by the requests to have his or her decisions ratified by the First and Deputy First Minister.

“The Victims Commissioner should have the same freedom afforded to other commissioners such as the Childrens and the Human Rights commissioner. I fear that this may not be the case with the future Victims Commissioner.”

West Tyrone Ulster Unionist Assembly Member, Derek Hussey, has expressed concerns in regard to the placing of the Castlederg, Ardstraw, Newtownstewart region of Strabane District Council with the proposed new North West Super Council.

Mr Hussey, who is also a member for the Derg Area on Strabane District Council, further suggested that the present proposal for seven Super Councils is still not ’set in stone’.

The West Tyrone UUP MLA said: “Although we now have proposals before us for a seven Council model, there are suggestions that the eventual Council make-up may have been the subject of a ’side deal’ within the St Andrews negotiations.

“Three of the main Parties - UUP, SDLP and DUP - favour a greater number of Councils up to 15, perhaps based along present Parliamentary Boundaries, thus providing greater local identity and co-terminousity of administrative systems.  This is also the continuing view of NILGA.”

Mr. Hussey continued: “However, to be pragmatic, we now have to consider the Commissioner’s present proposals and, therein, my major local concern is the placing of the Castlederg, Ardstaw, Newtownstewart region within a new North West Super Council.

“I strongly contend that this area orientates strongly towards Omagh and Enniskillen rather Londonderry.  Such an orientation would be evidenced by the social and economic trends shown by the residents of our area.

“The main travel to work pattern within the wider Derg Valley area is towards Omagh.  Our major sporting links are towards the South West e.g. the Football Clubs in the region are registered with and play against teams within the Fermanagh & Western Association.  Our Health provision is located within the present Sperrin Lakeland Trust and ongoing proposals in Health provision will entail local people travelling to Omagh and/or Enniskillen for Health Care Services.  Our school children moving on to Second Level Education, in the main travel to Castlederg or Omagh.

“I believe that the new North West Council will be an Urban type of administration while our mainly rural type community can be bettered serviced within the South West region with its greater understanding of the needs of rural dwellers.

“There are many other examples that demonstrate a natural affinity for people from the Derg/Newtown area towards Omagh rather than Strabane or Londonderry.

Mr Hussey concluded “I will certainly be making representations to the Commission in regard to the current placement of our area and am urging individuals and organisations to do likewise before the closing date of 5th January 2007.”

Castlederg Councillor and Ulster Unionist West Tyrone Assembly Member, Derek Hussey, has queried why no arrests were made following a successful police operation in Strabane.

Congratulating the police on their operation which resulted in the seizure of counterfeit goods worth more than £8,000, Councillor Hussey said last Friday’s action was another major step in tackling the problem of counterfeit goods.

He added: “I welcome the fact that the police continue to be active in this area, since it hits legal traders hard but I am disappointed that it seems no arrests were made following the confiscation of goods including DVDs, CDs, cigarettes and tobacco.

“The most important element in the war against counterfeit goods are the rogues who conduct this type of operation.

“I would urge the police to come down hard on them and send out a strong signal to others involved in this illegal activity that it will not be tolerated.”