Report to outline CCTV provision at Castlederg play area following anti-social behaviour incidents

A REPORT on CCTV provision at a popular play area in Castlederg is to be brought before councillors following a spike in vandalism and anti-social behaviour.

Derry City and Strabane District Council recently issued a public appeal following weeks of repeated damage at the Castle Park facility, including smashed glass and debris strewn across the play area - hazards that pose a serious risk of injury to children and families.

Council workers have been forced to carry out regular clean-ups to make the area safe, diverting resources from other frontline services, the local authority said.

Local Sinn Féin councillor, Ruairí McHugh, raised the issue at the monthly meeting of Derry City and Strabane District Council.

Councillor McHugh, who was chairing the meeting as Mayor, said that while the vandalism had been "minor in its nature", there is fear the anti-social behaviour will increase as the summer months near.

He added: "It's disappointing given the fact that there's been a lot of ratepayers money invested in that facility, so we don't want to see it deteriorating any further.

"I'm going to ask that a report be brought back to the relevant committee of council on the current status of the current CCTV that's there, and if that is no longer in operation, a report on potential new CCTV for the area."

Ulster Unionist councillor, Derek Hussey, described the anti-social behaviour as "absolutely disgraceful".

He continued: "It's just to express the concern at the anti-social behaviour in and around the play park in Castlederg which resulted in debris, and particularly broken glass, being scattered around what is a children's play park. Absolutely disgraceful.

"I pay particular tribute to our council staff who identified this, went in and and cleaned it up, and have been doing for several weeks.

"Whilst not taking away from responsibility, the issue also raises another responsibility for some agencies.

"Within that, I would include the following three. Firstly, the Police Service. Some time ago we received notification that police had concerns about anti-social behaviour in Newtownstewart and Sion Mills, and that they were upping their presence to deal with that.

"That is the same request as I would now have, and I'm sure others would have, with regard to Castlederg - not just the play park, but other areas about the town.

"The big issue there is it's the same Neighbourhood Policing Team having to deal with that.

“So, there's a resource issue that I would suggest PSNI have to address to ensure that they can enact a higher presence throughout those three settlements, in particular in the Derg area.

"Next is the issue of PCSP (Policing and Community Safety Partnership).

"PCSP, as I understand it, have a responsibility with regard to community support wardens.

"There are rural community wardens but I don't seen them very often, and it's all down to the area that they have to cover compared to the wardens situation in the city in particular.

"So that's something that the PCSP should be looking at - a greater resourcing to rural community support for wardens who can be out there assisting any other bodies who are trying to ensure that there's less of this anti-social behaviour going on in our community.

"The final agency that I would refer to is council ourselves. There used to be cameras in that area."

Alderman Hussey continued: "I would ask that council look at can the cameras be reinstated that are there, or can cameras be placed on that valuable council asset, to prevent any further anti-social behaviours of this sort that not alone causes a fear for those who would wish to use the park, particularly at night.

“I know there's lighting there, but there are areas, such as the play park, which are further out of sight, and can lend themselves to this sort of anti-social behaviour.

"I condemn totally that anti-social behaviour but at the same time, there are things that the various agencies can do.

"And I would urge that those be taken forward for consideration."

Mayor McHugh clarified: "Under chair's business, I did ask for a report on those cameras to come back, on the current status of them - which I think we know- and what can be done going forward to provide adequate CCTV there."

The DUP's Alderman Keith Kerrigan said the issue had been raised at a meeting of the local PCSP.

"I do know the issue in regards that there's not the funding to have an individual community safety warden team for the rural area,” he said.

"The reports are available, but we've had four visits from the community safety wardens to Castlederg over the last three months so that facility is not there.

“Although it was slightly more positive from the PSNI in that there seems to be potentially some additional funding or even resources available in regards to the neighbourhood teams so hopefully that can step that up.

"I concur with the comments; it's a shame that when we do have a good asset down at the Castle Site, that individuals are causing damage to it, and that's really disappointing.

"But again, concur with the comments in regards to any potential to get the CCTV."

The report is expected to be brought before a future meeting of council's Health and Communities committee.