New community safety website unveiled

Northern Ireland Justice Minister David Ford has unveiled a new website designed to map community safety concerns throughout the districts of Newry and Mourne.

Developed by the Newry and Mourne Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP), the Development Management Planning site (www.nmdmp.com) highlights areas of concern in various wards with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), council, NI Housing Executive, Southern HSC Trust, NI Ambulance Service and NI Fire and Rescue Service all inputting information.

The coloured map is the first of its kind in Northern Ireland and enables agencies and communities to work together to address collective problems in the area.

Mr Ford said: “We are all too aware of the criticism that comes from what appears to be disjointed working: agencies, government departments and communities, all doing work in their own right but in isolation.

“This new website will reveal the real need within the local community, by bringing all local knowledge to a single platform. This will undoubtedly enhance the work of the PCSP by enabling everyone to work smarter to address the real areas of concern and assist in the implementation of community planning.”