Ballymena Community Safety Partnership is tackling major issues such as drugs, anti-social behaviour and retail crime.
The views of local people have contributed to a comprehensive community safety audit and helped the Partnership launch its three year strategy in June 2005.
Radio Link
The 'Shop Link' radio system, originally introduced in Ballymena by the local Chamber of Trade & Commerce, forms part of the overall retail crime prevention strategy developed in partnership with the business community and PSNI. The project represents a perfect example of the private sector in Ballymena taking responsibility for their own internal crime prevention measures. It is now operated by Ballymena Retailers Against Crime and involves the provision of two-way radios to retailers in the town so they can inform each other of potential problems. Membership currently stands at approximately 170, making the Ballymena scheme proportionally the largest in Northern Ireland (daytime economy).
Safer School Travel Project
The Safer School Travel Partnership was initiated in Ballymena as a response to problems with bullying at the bus station and on buses. Coordinated by Ballymena Community Safety Partnership, the project involves a working partnership made up of PSNI, local school principals, Translink, North Eastern Education and Library Board, Childline and Department of Education.
A number of practical initiatives have taken place. These include :-
* direct pick-up of young people by buses at the school
* enforcement of bus pass regulations
* increased supervision at the bus station and busstops by Translink, PSNI and local school staff
* Translink Safety Bus visits schools to instruct first year pupils in safe bus usage
Quads and scramblers injury prevention leaflet
Ballymena Northern Ireland Tenants Action Project, a community representative on the Community Safety Partnership, coordinated production of a leaflet entitled "The latest craze....or just plain crazy". The leaflet highlights the legal responsibilities of users of quads, gopeds and mini motos as well as raising awareness of safety issues. Every household in Ballymena received copies of the leaflet which it is hoped will help reduce the nuisance use of these vehicles in local areas.
Bonfire Safety Project
Ballymena Community Safety Partnership offers a small amount of funding to encourage festival type activities to mark the occasion traditionally associated with bonfires. Bonfires in the Borough have frequently been associated with anti-social behaviour and under-age drinking. The Bonfire Safety project encourages more family friendly activities and where bonfires are inevitable, advice on how to run those bonfires as safely as possible. In Moorfields this year, in conjunction with Art of Regeneration, young people took part in a creative workshop and constructed a dinosaur which was set alight in place of the traditional bonfire.
Bee Safe
800 local primary school pupils attended the Bee Safe event in Ballymena North this year and benefited from a wide range of talks on topics such as personal safety, fire safety, road safety and bullying.
Ballee Substance misuse Project
Ballee Community Association used funding from the Small Grants Programme to run a drug, substance and alcohol misuse education programme for local young people. Participants had the chance of great fun too through the associated DJ skills workshops.
Clubreach
Victory Restoration Ministries used funding to purchase two radio link radios to improve the safety of volunteers who staff a weekend late night soup kitchen in the town centre.
Good Morning Ballymena
The Over Fifties Forum provide valuable reassurance for elderly, vulnerable people through regular phone calls to the homes of participants.
Bannside Community Safety Project
An information event held to reduce fear of crime in Bannside was organised by the Bannside Community Safety Group with participation from PSNI and the Northern ireland Fire and Rescue Service.
Ballykeel 2 Environmental Project
Funding was used to purchase the materials for young people to create window boxes for elderly people on the estate. Its anticipated this will help break down barriers between the generations and so reduce fear of crime in the local area.
The first meeting of Ballymena Community Safety Partnership took place in April 2003. The Partnership represents the Council, statutory, voluntary/private and community sectors.
Anyone requiring further information in relation to community safety should contact 25633930.
