THE meeting in Killough organised by the Down Policing and Community Safety Partnership was well attended by local residents.
On Wednesday 18 June the people of Killough gathered in the recently refurbished Youth and Community Centre which had been damaged by fire to discuss key community issues.
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Main Street in Killough viilage.[/caption]
The local people were welcomed by Councillor Willie Clarke, Chairman of the Down PCSP, and an interesting discussion followed about some of the issues around community safety in the village around young people and antisocial behaviour (ASB).
Constable Ryan Kendrick, Neighbourhood Policing Team member for the Killough and Ardglass area, explained that in Newcastle’s estates the co-operation of the local residents was key to improving the situation rapidly. He said: “That is the way to solve these smaller and simpler issues. If the community get more involved in their own community they can identify the problems and find solutions. We are always they at the end of a phone to help of we can. Policing like every other service has seen its constraints but we do try and respond to important matters promptly. We are always keen to work with the local communities. We deal with many issue such as drink and drugs, crime, antisocial behaviour, and sometimes more serious matters too.”
In the discussion, residents of Seaview explained that there had been incidents of unruly behaviour with local children and described a litany of acts such as kicking doors, throwing stones, singing vulgar songs and swearing. One resident said: “I have complained to the police several times but the response I got was not quick enough to deal with the issue.”
After a ful discussion and the listing of a number of incidents from various residents, it was agreed to set up a youth diversion activity to give them something interesting to do such as a cage football evening with pizzas.
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Back row, Pat McGreevy, County Down Rural Community Network, Cllr Dermot Curran, Cllr Carmel O’Boyle, Jim Conlon, and front row, Gerry McCann, Cllr Willie Clarke, PCSP Chairman, Audrey Byrne, PCSP Vice Chair, and Una Kelly, PCSP Independent Member.[/caption]
There was discussion around the current youth project and it was felt that  young people engaging in this activity should be encouraged to go home ir be left off home on Thursday and Friday evenings when the antisocial behaviour also occurs later on the evening.
There was also a discussion around the feeling that some of the youth were drinking alcohol and this raised a concern with a number present. Cllr Willie Clarke explained that PCSP will look into this and said if cars were turning up and selling or delivering drink in Killough to minors then that would need to be addressed.
Pat McGreevy, Development Officer for the County Down Rural Community Network, said: “An inter-generational project would be a very good addition to Killough. The elderly working with the young people has proven to be a real plus in other communities.”
Doris Noe also said that she was trying to get a village plan produced for Killough and welcomed  any help from the community. She said: “This really need sto come from the community and it is important that there is good input from local people to make it a really worthwhile exercise.”
Other issues suych as litter on streets and footpaths and the collapsed state of part of the Shore Road were also discussed.
At the end of the meeting, Janine Hillen, the Down PCSP manager read back a list of actions that would be completed and she indicated there would be a feedback meeting in number of weeks time.
Action points raised included:
* improve lighting in areas where youths congregate and cause issues.
* the local Neighbourhood Policing team is to spread its contact details to local homes.
* an inter-agency group will be set up.
* the PSCP will check about where children are getting the alcohol.
* police will be notified that they need to respond better to ASB calls from the public.
* a fun football cage soccer event is to be organised.
* the possibility of setting up an inter-generational  boat building project.
” it was suggested that the PCSP put on a show of its work for local residents.
* posters advertising the next meting will be distributed around the village.
* a meeting will be called to offer feedback.
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