What we do: PCSP Programmes

The PCSP supports a number of programmes to help make our neighbourhoods safer. For more information please contact pcsp@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

PCSP Small Grants Programme

PCSP grants are available to community and voluntary groups to deliver diversionary and detached youth engagement projects, which will target areas of anti-social behaviour (ASB) within the Borough. Read more at PCSP Small Grants Programme

Drugs and substance abuse (including RAPID bins)

The PCSP works closely with the PSNI regards the monitoring and reduction of criminality related to alcohol and substance abuse in the Borough.

PCSP staff also engage with the South Eastern Drugs and Alcohol Coordination Team (SEDACT) to support a range of important interventions to reduce the level of drug related criminality in the Borough. PCSP annually commissions tier 2 drug intervention programmes working with teenagers and adults.

It also supports community RAPID drug bins for the disposal of prescription medication in RAPID bins in the Borough (Springhill Shopping Centre and Kilcooley Community Forum in Bangor), one in Holywood (Redburn Loughview Community Forum) and one in Newtownards (Ards Community Network). The 'Remove All Prescription and Illegal Drugs' (RAPID) scheme is a joint initiative between Ards and North Down Borough Council's Policing and Safety Community Partnership (PCSP), the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and the Public Health Agency.

Anti-Social Behaviour

The PCSP funds a number of projects to address levels of ASB in the Borough including detached youth work, street pastors and educational programmes in local schools. We also work with the community safety team, PSNI and local housing associations.

There are three main categories for antisocial behaviour, depending on how many people are affected:

Personal antisocial behaviour is when a person targets a specific individual or group.
Nuisance antisocial behaviour is when a person causes trouble, annoyance or suffering to a community.
Environmental antisocial behaviour is when a person's actions affect the wider environment, such as public spaces or buildings.

The PCSP supports an annual small grants programme to support voluntary and community organisations to address Anti Social Behaviour in the local Borough. If you are the victim of ASB you can call the community safety team on on 0300 013 3333 extension 40254 or 40102, or the police on 101.

Business Watch

Business Watch is a scheme which operates in a similar way to a Neighbourhood Watch scheme. The scheme is run for, and by, members of the business community and is supported by the police and Ards and North Down Borough Council. This allows us to share information about criminal, anti-social and suspicious behaviour in your area to prevent crime.

The aims of the scheme are to:

Increase the prevention and detection of business related crime
Increase community engagement between individual members, the police and other business related groups
Reduce the fear of crime in your community

What are the benefits of being a member of the Business Watch Scheme?

Access to Ards and North Down Text Alert (early information regarding crimes or suspicious behaviour)
Visit by the PSNI Crime Prevention Officer who will provide advice on how to report suspicious activity and information about security products that reduce theft and increase the chance of offenders being caught
FREE Business Watch Signage
FREE Counterfeit Pens
FREE Safeshop training

For more information please contact Ards and North Down PCSP on email pcsp@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk or telephone 07780 486 590 or PSNI Crime Prevention Officer on Telephone 101.

Domestic and sexual violence

The PCSP supports activities in relation to the reduction of and reporting of domestic abuse and sexual crimes.

If a person's behaviour at home makes you or members of your family feel afraid, that is domestic abuse. If you have any concerns, contact the 24 hour confidential Domestic and Sexual Abuse Helpline on 0808 802 1414, by email help@dsahelpline.org or by webchat at https://dsahelpline.org. If you are in immediate danger, contact the police on 999.

Hate Crime

There are different types of hate crime recognised in Northern Ireland: They include any incident that is perceived to have been committed against another person because of their race, religion, political opinion, disability or sexual orientation or sexual identity.

The PCSP team partners with the PSNI and Ards and North Down Council Good Relations team to work with communities to support programmes that reduce the number of Hate crime incidents and promote a greater appreciation of cultural diversity within the Borough and an increased awareness of PCSP/GR initiatives to address hate crime.

If you are a victim of hate crime you can contact the Police on 101 or 999 in emergencies.

Road Safety

The PCSP is committed to working with community groups, PSNI and Road Service to support a decrease in road traffic related deaths and road traffic incidents in the Borough.

It supports the Ards and North Down Road Safety Committee who work with the PSNI monitoring speeding across thre Borough using a mobile Speed Indicator device. The annual road safety roadshow targeting young adults is delivered by the PSNI, and annually the PCSP and PSNI deliver bike safe training for motor cyclists.

Supporting confidence in policing

The PCSP works with the PSNI to support a number of activities which promote confidence in policing and the rule of law. These activities include:

The ASB Forum: Monthly meetings involving the NIHE, Housing Associations, Council Environmental Health, Police, PCSP and other statutory agencies to address ASB concerns in the Borough
The District Support Hub: Launched in November 2019 the Support Hub brings together statutory agencies including the Fire and Rescue Service, Probation Board Youth Justice Agency, Education Authority, Ambulance Service and South Eastern Health Trust to strategically support cases and individuals within the community.
Fortnightly Meetings between Police, the Councils Community Safety Team, and the Voluntary Street Wardens to discuss ASB and deployment priorities.
The PCSP committee hold quarterly monitoring sub-group meetings to help PCSP members monitor police performance against the Local Policing Plan.
PCSP support a small grants programme to support PSNI led initiatives to engage with the local community, youth groups and schools.

Internet safety

Online and mobile technology has transformed how people work and communicate in business, education and social settings. However, we all need to be careful in all our online exchanges, particularly children and young people who might not understand the risks in sharing their personal information online with friends or strangers.

Ards and North Down PCSP provides tips to help parents and carers keep children safe online:

have the conversation early and often
explore online together
know who your child is talking to online
set rules and agree boundaries
make sure that content is age-appropriate
use parental controls to filter, restrict, monitor or report content
check they know how to use privacy settings and reporting tools

Text alert system

A key challenge facing Ards and North Down Policing & Community Partnership and local police is how we engage and communicate better with the communities we serve. Ards and North Down PCSP and the PSNI have listened to the concerns of the community particularly in our rural areas and they have told us that we need to address how we communicate information to them.

Not all citizens have access to or are comfortable with social networking platforms which many statutory, voluntary and community organisations now use to deliver key messages and information to their members. Ards and North Down PCSP in conjunction with their colleagues in the PSNI has developed a text alert system which will allow them to communicate directly with the citizens of Ards and North Down who sign up for the scheme by SMS text message almost immediately if there is an issue in their area.

Members of the Text Alert Scheme will receive a SMS message to their mobile phone with relevant community safety information in their area. Text Alert can be used to remind members of dangerous road conditions, suspicious vehicles and ongoing crime issues in the registered users particular area.

Registered users will only receive a text message from the PCSP or the PSNI. Your mobile number will not be shared with any other external body or organisation. Your information will be held securely by a named data controller from PCSP.

Completed registration forms can be returned to:
PCSP Office
Ards and North Down Borough Council,
Town Hall,
The Castle,
Bangor
BT20 4BT.

Farm watch

Farm Watch aims to address concerns raised by the rural communities across the Borough, providing them with an opportunity and support to help reduce the risk of the most vulnerable becoming a victim of Rural Crime.

Members will receive Text Alerts from the PCSP and PSNI on issues which may affect your community.

The aims of Farm Watch are:
• To reduce crime and the fear of crime in farming and rural communities
• To build upon and strengthen community spirit in the rural community, so that everyone works together to protect their property
• To improve communication between the farming community and the police service.
• To encourage people to report suspicious incidents as they occur

For further information download the Ards and North Down PCSP Farm Watch leaflet

Safety Around Quarries

PCSP supports the "Stay Safe Stay Out of Quarries" campaign.

Even on a hot summer day, the water lying in a quarry is very cold. On the surface, quiet, calm water might seem inviting however, dive into water at a quarry and you could experience cold shock in under two minutes, encounter deep water or hidden currents or become impaled on a car wreck or abandoned machinery.

Ards and North Down PCSP warns people about the dangers of swimming in water at disused or active quarries. If you see someone in danger in quarry water, dial 999 immediately. If there is a lifebuoy throw this to them. Do not enter the water to try and rescue them, wait for emergency help.