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CURRENT INITIATIVES IN NORTHERN IRELAND

CURRENT INITIATIVES IN NORTHERN IRELAND. Foyle District Commander. Chief Superintendent Richard A Russell. It is estimated that as a result of alcohol-related harm in Northern Ireland. £34.3 million per year is incurred in costs that directly impact on Government spending, for example:

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CURRENT INITIATIVES IN NORTHERN IRELAND

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  1. CURRENT INITIATIVES IN NORTHERN IRELAND

  2. Foyle District Commander Chief Superintendent Richard A Russell

  3. It is estimated that as a result of alcohol-related harm in Northern Ireland • £34.3 million per year is incurred in costs that directly impact on Government spending, for example: • Hospital Costs • General Practice Costs • Prison Costs

  4. In addition to this it is estimated that £743.2 millions per year are incurred in costs that impact on Government spending less directly, for example:Premature DeathsRoad Traffic AccidentsCost to Industry due to sickness

  5. Costs of Drinking • Over 730 deaths per annum • Equivalent to 12,000 expected years of life lost • Approximately 400,000 working days lost each year • Approximate cost to the economy of £800 million

  6. Alcohol Related Crime Home Office Statistics show that alcohol plays a significant role in crime levels, contributing to: • 40% of Violent Crime • 76% of Assaults • 88% of Criminal Damage

  7. Current Initiatives • South Belfast – Get Home Safe • Foyle – City Centre Assault Strategy

  8. PROFILE OF SOUTH BELFAST DCU • 17 Square Miles • 311 Licensed Premises • 190 Parades / Concerts / Protests / Major sporting events • 60,000 Requests for Police assistance per year • 14,000 Crimes • Major University : 28,000 students • International Football Ground • Major Hospital • Concert Halls

  9. Strategic Objective “Develop and Implement a sustainable long term partnership solution to Alcohol Related Violence in Belfast City Centre”

  10. Local Situation in South Belfast April 2002 • Increase in alcohol related violence • Increase in licensed premises • Fear of crime • Rising Cost of Assaults

  11. Problem Solving Techniques • Problem Profile • Crime Pattern Analysis • Analysis of Contributory Factors • Results Analysis

  12. AIMS • Reduce alcohol related violence • Develop partnership approach • Reach 18-24 year olds

  13. Main Messages • Creating a safer environment • Plan ahead • Consequences

  14. The Police Operation • Extra Resources • Magistrates Briefed • Hot Spot foot patrols • Top 6 locations • Early Intervention • Use Of media

  15. CAMPAIGN SUCCESS - Partners • Alcohol referral scheme • Door Supervisors Registration Scheme • Radio Linked ‘pub watch scheme’ • Privately funded CCTV • Link to Hospital • Free Bus services • Emergency Contact Points

  16. CAMPAIGN SUCCESS - CRIME • 40% reduction in assaults • 52% reduction in serious assaults (£18 Million saving) • 20% reduction in the number of persons with serious injuries seeking victim support

  17. Foyle District • City Centre Assault Reduction Strategy

  18. Profile of Foyle District Second largest Police District in Northern Ireland 110,000 population 204 Licensed Premises University Campus Approximately 50,000 incidents a year Major Hospital Concert Venues Local Airport 97 Major Events 320 officers in the District

  19. Catalysts to tackling assaults problems • Policing Board targets • Strategic & Tactical Assessments • Jill Dando Course

  20. Overview of Assaults Problem • Total of 1948 assaults in Foyle DCU, in 12 month period – equivalent to 5 per day • More than one-quarter of all assaults in the DCU result in serious injury • Approximately 10% of all assaults involved the use of a weapon or dangerous object • Almost half of all assaults in the DCU occurred in the City Centre – approximately 16 per week

  21. Analysis of Problem The 5 W’s and an H principle used to identify patterns and trends: • WHAT was the problem • WHEN did the problem occur • WHO was the victim and offender • WHY was the problem occurring • HOW did the problem occur • WHERE did the problem occur

  22. Objectives of Strategy • Reduce City Centre Assaults by more than 8% • Implement a media strategy • Share ownership of the Assaults problem through a multi-partnership approach • Investigate the ‘myth’ of the City Centre Assault Gang • Improve police crime recording data

  23. Key Initiatives • Partnership with Bar-Owners/Managers • Partnership with Local Public Transport Provider • Partnership with Local Council • Partnership with Department of Environment • Partnership with Local University

  24. Results

  25. Reduction in Assaults The Strategy was launched in September 2002 • In first 6 months assaults were reduced by 43%(183) • This represented a saving of £7.8 million • Since September 2002 to date assaults have been reduced by 34.5% (277)

  26. Difficulties Encountered • Use of police logos • Resistance to establishment of Radio Link • Political backlash from publication of photographs of offenders in local newspaper • Involvement of local hospital

  27. Other Positive results from the Strategy • Partnerships developed • Improvement in quality and use of CCTV tapes • Use of High Visibility Jackets • Use of Video Identification Unit

  28. Looking Forward • Sustainability • Partnerships • Leadership • Changes in the Law?

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