Down Policing and Community Safety Partnerships (PCSP)
What are PCSPs?
PCSPs (Policing and Community Safety Partnerships) aim to make our community safer.
They are statutory bodies established under the Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 and bring together, in one partnership, the functions and responsibilities of District Policing Partnerships (DPPs) and Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs) , building on the most useful and effective aspects of each, while operating in a more streamlined and joined up way.
They are funded jointly by the Department of Justice and the Northern Ireland Policing Board.
There are 26 partnerships, one for each council area. Belfast has one PCSP and four District Policing and Community Safety Partnerships (DPCSPs) covering the North, South, East and West area commands within the city.
Each PCSP has a Policing Committee to take forward specific police monitoring and engagement functions, with the wider PCSP taking forward community safety related functions.
PCSPs may also establish Delivery Groups to address particular community safety issues that arise in their areas.
Who we are?
Down PCSP has 10 political members and 9 independent members.
Elected Members are:
Cllr Carmel O'Boyle (Chairperson)
Cllr Eamonn O'Neill
Cllr Mickey Coogan
Cllr William Dick
Cllr Desmond Patterson
Cllr Patsy Toman
Cllr Colin McGrath
Cllr Willie Clarke
Cllr Liam Johnston
The Down PCSP Manager is Janine Hillen.
What we do?
Down PCSP aims to make our community safer. We do this by focussing on the policing and community safety issues that matter most in Down.
We:
- consult and engage with the local community on the issues of concern in relation to policing and community safety. The Policing Committee has a distinct responsibility to provide views to the relevant district commander and the Policing Board on policing matters;
- identify and prioritise the particular issues of concern and prepare plans for how these can be tackled;
- monitor - a Policing Committee comprising the political and independent members will monitor the performance of the police and work to gain the co-operation of the public with the police in preventing crime; and
- deliver a reduction in crime and enhance community safety in our district, directly through our own interventions, through the work of our delivery groups or through support for the work of others.
Policing Committee
Down PCSP Policing Committee works with local police to develop the local policing plan and monitor their performance against this plan.
The role of the Policing Committee is to carry out the following specific functions:
- to provide views to a relevant police commander and to the Policing Board on any matter concerning the district;
- to monitor performance of the police in carrying out the policing plan in the district; and
- to make arrangements for obtaining the co-operation of the public with the policing in preventing crime and enhancing community safety in the district.
Community Safety
Down PCSP will work with the community to identify issues of concern in the local area and potential solutions, and will prepare a plan to address these concerns. The focus of the plan will be on delivering practical solutions .
We also work in partnership with those organisations that have a contribution to make to enhancing community safety in our area.
Once designated organisations are appointed for example PSNI & NI Policing Board they will serve as active members of our partnership and contribute to the development of our partnership plan.
Getting involved
Community involvement is vitally important if we are to really deliver a safer society for everyone. Down PCSP would be keen to hear your views.
We will be hosting public meetings in the future and these will be publicised locally.
This website page will also updated regularly.
Further information
Down Equality Scheme
Consultation Letter
PCSP Financial Guidelines (PDF)
Code of Practice for the Exercise of Functions by PCSP (PDF)
Contact us
PCSP
24 Strangford Road
Downpatrick
BT30 6SR
T: 028 4461 0840
Projects in your area
Down PCSP is supporting a range of community safety projects in your area. Details of these projects will follow.