Efforts To Tackle ASB In South Belfast Ramped Up

Belfast City Council is to ramp up its efforts to tackle anti-social behaviour in the south of the city.

Additional resources will be allocated to the Holylands and Lower Ormeau areas this week and officers will be carrying out joint patrols with the PSNI.

The move follows a number of complaints from local residents and comes one week after five vehicles were damaged by arsonists in the Holylands.

Mobile CCTV will be deployed in the densely populated area and police and council officers will visit licensed premises and assess the legislation around alcohol and entertainment licensing. Council will carry out the work in collaboration with the PSNI, Department of Justice and Department for Communities.

During a meeting of the People and Communities Committee on Tuesday 29 October to discuss recent incidents in the wider university area, councillors expressed their commitment to doing their utmost to help address the issues.

Councillor Michael Collins said: "We are in ongoing discussions with residents and are doing everything we can to address anti-social behaviour in the area, in partnership with the PSNI, university and colleges, and other statutory agencies.

"Council increases its resources in the area at key times in the academic year, including Halloween, and this week we have agreed to target extra resources in the Holylands and Lower Ormeau areas to tackle issues such as noise and on-street drinking."

Councillor Collins added: "Over recent days and weeks, councillors have heard from long-term residents about the impact this kind of behaviour is having on their daily lives. While additional resources are to be welcomed, Council needs to work with our city partners, including Department for Communities and Department for Infrastructure to identify and bring forward regeneration projects which will help transform the area and deliver a longer-term solution for residents."



(JG/CM)