Car Crime Unit Stays On Track

There's been a welcome for news that a contentious decision to shut down a dedicated car crime police unit in west Belfast has been overturned.

The temporary reprieve follows protests from the victims' group, Families Bereaved through Car Crime who fear more people could be killed by so-called 'joyriders'.

Last week, police said Auto Crime Unit members would be moved to other duties.

However, in a statement on Wednesday, the PSNI said the unit would remain in place until at least December when a full review would be carried out.

Police said they would work with the community to consider the best way forward.

"Officers are fully committed to continually refocusing and improving the service in the greater west Belfast area and effectively addressing all criminality and the concerns of the community," the statement said.

SDLP West Belfast MLA Alex Attwood has also moved to welcome the PSNI's reversal of a decision to close its Auto Crime Unit in West Belfast.

He said: "This is positive. The Auto Crime Unit always had a particular significance. It demonstrated a police commitment to tackle death driving and acted as a bridge between the police and the community not expressed before. Its continuation at least for six months is the right way to go.

"I spoke to the west Belfast commander about this issue last week and I had the sense that the police would look at the issue again. It's good that they have done so.

"It demonstrates that they do listen to the community and can adjust how they do policing in response to genuine community concerns," he said.

Sinn Féin West Belfast MP Gerry Adams has also welcomed this morning's news and said that a delegation, including Fra McCann MLA, Councillor Marie Cush and representatives from the west Belfast Community Safety Forum, yesterday morning met senior PSNI officers in Parliament Buildings, including Alastair Finlay, ACC Belfast region of the PSNI; Mark Hamilton, PSNI Chief Supt for North & West Belfast; and Emma Mooney, PSNI Chief Inspector for west Belfast.

He said that he had asked for this meeting with the PSNI in order to review recent developments in the aftermath of Seamus Fox's murder and to discuss the development of a policing strategy to curtail violent crime and counter anti-social hotspots in west Belfast.

Also on the agenda was the decision by the PSNI to scrap the auto-crime unit. Commenting, Mr Adams said: "The decision to keep this unit in place until January of next year while a consultation takes place with the community on agreeing how to take this issue forward, is a positive development.

"It is evidence of the merits of the PSNI and community groups engaging on policing issues."

(BMcC/GK)