Communities must be at the centre of crime reduction - Ford

11.02.40am GMT Tue 18th May 2010

Justice Minister David Ford

The devolution of policing and justice can make a real difference to making our communities safer.

That was the message from Justice Minister David Ford today as he addressed the Assembly during a debate on robbery.

Mr Ford said: "Robbery, across the board, is totally unacceptable and inexcusable. It is a serious crime that has a devastating impact on the victim and increases fear in the wider community. This is particularly true for some of the most vulnerable in our society, such as the elderly. Statistically, crimes against older people are thankfully relatively rare but one crime is one too many.

"A lot of work has gone in to reducing robbery levels in our society and I am pleased to say that there has been an overall reduction over time in crimes such as domestic burglary.

"However, it is important that we continue to raise awareness of home safety measures, reinforcing the message that crime prevention is better than cure. The PSNI also employ Crime Prevention Officers who are available at District level to provide free advice to any concerned householder."

The Minister continued, "More can be done. That is why I am currently developing a Community Safety Strategy for Northern Ireland. As Minister for Justice, I want devolution to make a difference. I want a Community Safety Strategy that fully reflects Northern Ireland's community safety needs with a strong emphasis on the work to build a shared future. I look forward to working with the Justice Committee, Executive colleagues and the wider community in developing the Strategy."

Minister Ford concluded, "Everyone across Northern Ireland has a vital role to play in community safety. It is up to us all, as citizens, to report suspicious activity and anyone they know to be involved in criminal behaviour to the police."