27.8.04
Irelandclick.com
Crime Captial
Shocking new statistics confirm South Belfast’s reputation as the most dangerous place in city
Soaring South Belfast crime rates revealed at this week’s meeting of Belfast’s District Policing Partnership have cemented the area’s reputation as the official crime capital of Northern Ireland.
Between April and June burglaries rose by 26 per cent, domestic burglary by 16 per cent and vehicle crime by 15 per cent in comparison to the same period last year.
These spiralling crime figures come against a backdrop of a frightening 611 assaults being recorded in South Belfast between April and June, 47 racial incidents, 20 sectarian incidents and 31 crimes against pensioners.
Politicians and DPP members expressed shock at the spiralling South Belfast crime figures and have called for action to be taken.
Time for PSNI to tackle ‘real crime’ says DUP
A dramatic rise in the number of crimes being committed in South Belfast has prompted a senior member of the District Policing Partnership to call on the PSNI to start “concentrating on real crime rather than trivialities”.
DPP chairperson and DUP councillor Ruth Patterson said the latest South Belfast crime statistics make frightening reading and will leave the community ill-at-ease.
Between April and June 2004 burglaries in the south of the city went up by 26 per cent, domestic burglaries rose by 16 per cent and vehicle crime increased by 7 per cent in comparison to the same period last year.
This worrying crime increase comes against a backdrop of 611 assaults being recorded in South Belfast between April and June, 47 racial incidents, 20 sectarian incidents and 31 crimes against pensioners.
Dismayed at the figure,s Ruth Patterson is insisting on the PSNI getting its priorities in order.
“The PSNI need to concentrate on real crime rather than trivialities like drivers who have no tax discs in their car windows,” said Ruth Patterson.
“These new crime statistics for South Belfast are very worrying, especially when compared to other parts of the city that are not half as bad,” said Ms Pattterson.
Laganbank SDLP councillor and DPP member Peter O’Reilly believes South Belfast’s reputation as a dumping ground for criminals adds to escalating crime rates.
“Criminals and paramilitary exiles are being dumped here left, right and centre and it is these people who are responsible for increased crime rates,” said Cllr O’Reilly.
“There isn’t another area in the north that has as many doss houses and hostels as South Belfast.”
South Belfast’s crime figures for April to June 2004 cement the area’s reputation as the official crime capital of Northern Ireland. Figures for the past year show a colossal 15,267 crimes were recorded in the south of the city, compared to the Northern Ireland average of 6,882.
This shocking statistic translates into a frightening 41 crimes occurring every day, made even more worrying by the PSNI’s lowly clear up rates.
South Belfast residents are three times more likely to be the victims of a serious crime than people living in West and East Belfast, and 33 per cent more likely to encounter criminality than residents of North Belfast.
Journalist:: Staff Reporter
Crime Captial
Shocking new statistics confirm South Belfast’s reputation as the most dangerous place in city
Soaring South Belfast crime rates revealed at this week’s meeting of Belfast’s District Policing Partnership have cemented the area’s reputation as the official crime capital of Northern Ireland.
Between April and June burglaries rose by 26 per cent, domestic burglary by 16 per cent and vehicle crime by 15 per cent in comparison to the same period last year.
These spiralling crime figures come against a backdrop of a frightening 611 assaults being recorded in South Belfast between April and June, 47 racial incidents, 20 sectarian incidents and 31 crimes against pensioners.
Politicians and DPP members expressed shock at the spiralling South Belfast crime figures and have called for action to be taken.
Time for PSNI to tackle ‘real crime’ says DUP
A dramatic rise in the number of crimes being committed in South Belfast has prompted a senior member of the District Policing Partnership to call on the PSNI to start “concentrating on real crime rather than trivialities”.
DPP chairperson and DUP councillor Ruth Patterson said the latest South Belfast crime statistics make frightening reading and will leave the community ill-at-ease.
Between April and June 2004 burglaries in the south of the city went up by 26 per cent, domestic burglaries rose by 16 per cent and vehicle crime increased by 7 per cent in comparison to the same period last year.
This worrying crime increase comes against a backdrop of 611 assaults being recorded in South Belfast between April and June, 47 racial incidents, 20 sectarian incidents and 31 crimes against pensioners.
Dismayed at the figure,s Ruth Patterson is insisting on the PSNI getting its priorities in order.
“The PSNI need to concentrate on real crime rather than trivialities like drivers who have no tax discs in their car windows,” said Ruth Patterson.
“These new crime statistics for South Belfast are very worrying, especially when compared to other parts of the city that are not half as bad,” said Ms Pattterson.
Laganbank SDLP councillor and DPP member Peter O’Reilly believes South Belfast’s reputation as a dumping ground for criminals adds to escalating crime rates.
“Criminals and paramilitary exiles are being dumped here left, right and centre and it is these people who are responsible for increased crime rates,” said Cllr O’Reilly.
“There isn’t another area in the north that has as many doss houses and hostels as South Belfast.”
South Belfast’s crime figures for April to June 2004 cement the area’s reputation as the official crime capital of Northern Ireland. Figures for the past year show a colossal 15,267 crimes were recorded in the south of the city, compared to the Northern Ireland average of 6,882.
This shocking statistic translates into a frightening 41 crimes occurring every day, made even more worrying by the PSNI’s lowly clear up rates.
South Belfast residents are three times more likely to be the victims of a serious crime than people living in West and East Belfast, and 33 per cent more likely to encounter criminality than residents of North Belfast.
Journalist:: Staff Reporter
