Save our station!
Thursday, 4 September 2008
Chief Inspector Barbara Gray.
A Broughshane community representative has made a heartfelt plea to the PSNI's Area Commander to retain the village's police station amid speculation that it may close.
Speaking at August's public meeting of the District Policing Partnership at Houston's Mill, Chairman of Broughshane Community Association, Sandy Wilson, said it would 'send a dangerous message to other community groups' if the station was to close.
His impassioned address to Chief Inspector Barbara Gray at the end of the meeting was greeted with warm applause from the public and DPP members alike.
“People here are very concerned about the local station and its potential closure," he said.
He said that as a community group established in 1969 and having been involved in community work within that group they are 'aware how funding is allocated' and this has caused them concern.
He added that NISRA (Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency) statistics show that crime is low in the Glenwherry, Glenravel, Slemish, Broughshane and Craigywarren wards - and that should be a good reason to retain the station.
“These wards are in the top seven for lack of crime in Northern Ireland and that is something we should be proud of," he said.
He added that the low crime rates were partly down to a community ethos which has been passed down through generations.
“Young poeple growing up in the area have seen the standards which have been set. If something is vandalised, for example, people in the area will resolve it themselves.
“Now you could say that there is no reason to have police, but we should not be looking at it that way. Prevention is always better than the cure. Nobody looks at it from that angle," he said.
He then pointed to another NISRA statistic which states that the five wards mentioned are in the top ten in Northern Ireland for lack of services.
“One of the things people in our area are crying out for is a police station and to have that identity in the area."
He said that many community groups from all over Ireland have visited Broughshane to learn from their strong community identity.
“The last thing we want to be telling these people who visit us and who we visit is that the thanks we get is to close our police station," said Mr Wilson.
He added that the police station building itself has a rich history in the village and it has been part of their success in the Britain in Bloom, and other, competitions throughout the years.
“I think it would be a very dangerous message to send to all the community groups from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland who have come to Broughshane in the past if you are to close the police station. That the thanks you get for the last twenty years is to close the door," he said.
