Justice Minister Visits Anti-Crime Bus

Justice Minister David Ford has visited a music and multi-media bus designed to prevent young people becoming involved in crime.

Developed by Dundonald Elim Church and stationed in the Castlereagh area, the bus has been transformed into a high-tech studio with music equipment and the most up-to-date computers, mixers and software.

The Department of Justice provided £90,000 towards the project from money recovered from criminal assets.

Visiting the project today, David Ford said: "I have been very impressed by this project. It is unique, innovative and clearly appeals to young people.

"In addition to providing a welcome diversionary activity in local areas such as Tullycarnet and Ballybeen, the young people involved will also have the opportunity to try something new and develop new skills.

"The support my Department provided to this project came from the recovery of criminal assets. I think it is fitting that such money is reinvested into communities and to people working on the ground to make Northern Ireland safer."

The minister said the project fitted the ethos of the recently-published Community Safety Strategy, which emphasises the importance of early interventions.

"At the heart of the new Strategy is local communities, working in partnership, as Dundonald Elim Church, Castlereagh Council and the Castlereagh PCSP have done here, to help tackle anti-social behaviour, crime and the fear of crime by building safer, shared and confident communities."

(NE)