Question
Members of the Board’s Partnership Committee recently considered an update on Recommendation 40 from the South Armagh Review in relation to ‘Vulnerability Focus’.
Can the Chief Constable advise if consideration has been given to providing more welcoming community facilities, as an alternative to a PSNI station, in which to conduct interviews with vulnerable individuals?
Answer
Across PSNI, we regularly look for alternative ways in which we can interact within members of our community and this can include venues outside the traditional police estate. Indeed, police regularly agree to meet members of our community in locations outside police stations. By way of example, in Newry, Mourne & Down District police have recently participated in a domestic violence ‘One Stop Shop’ drop-in centre in Newry Library where victims of domestic abuse can call in and receive practical advice from a number of agencies.
While this suggested approach was not included specifically within recommendation 40 of the South Armagh Policing Review, work is underway under Recommendation 6 of the Review to improve the image of Newtownhamilton PSNI station to make it more welcoming for members of the public.