Scheme to tackle 'joyriding' launched

A scheme designed to tackle the scourge of so-called joyriding was launched yesterday.

Instituted by an umbrella body of statutory agencies, called the Inclusive Model of Partnership Against Car Theft (Impact), volunteers are being sought from the community who will be able to advise and monitor – or 'mentor' – the activity of youths involved in stealing and driving vehicles.

Impact hope that by enlisting the help of dedicated volunteers, impressionable youths will be deterred from following their peers into car crime. For those who persistently offend, "tenacious" volunteers will be trained to persuade 'joyriders' not to risk their lives and lives of others.

The statistics indicate that joyriding has been a continual blight on many communities, resulting in 17 deaths across Northern Ireland. The most recent death was that of 24-year-old Kieran Conlon killed on the Stewartstown Road in west Belfast on May 26.

Impact figures indicate the scale of the province-wide problem with 10,806 cars stolen in 2000-2001. However, west Belfast suffers more than any other community registering almost one-in-five car thefts for that year.

A spokesperson for Impact said: "We will not be able to provide all the answers and recognise the reality that young people still become involved in offending behaviour and putting others at risk.

"Impact recognises that violence or the threat of violence does not deter young people from offending and is wrong.

"What is required is a range of responses at different levels and this is the first time that statutory agencies are working alongside the community to respond to the problem."

Representatives of Impact will be visiting schools, youth clubs and community groups to allow members of the community most affected by such crime to have a direct input into preventing car theft and so reducing joyriding.

Local communities have organised demonstrations to highlight the problem and in May six families bereaved through car crime gathered a 10,000-name petition and presented it to Belfast City Hall.

(GMcG)