Mid and East Antrim PCSP Annual Report 2024-2025

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Chair and Vice Chair Foreword

We are happy to introduce this Annual Report of the Mid and East Antrim Policing and Community Safety Partnership (MEA PCSP) which showcases achievements over the 2024– 2025 period.

MEA PCSP considers the community safety issues which local people identify as being of great importance and works alongside partners in seeking to address those issues.

The Policing Committee of the Partnership also brings the views of local people into consideration when working alongside the District Commander in setting local targets for the police service to achieve.

We are delighted with the projects and initiatives that our PCSP has delivered in 2024-25 to help make sure that the aims and objectives identified within the PCSP Strategy were achieved.

This year has seen the successful delivery of our Action Plan, which continues to drive forward our mission of building safer, more resilient communities across the Borough.

Through strong collaboration with our partners from the statutory, community and voluntary sectors and the PSNI, the Partnership has worked to address Anti-Social Behaviour concerns, supported crime prevention initiatives, and helped to increased community confidence in policing in Mid and East Antrim.

Our work continues to target key issues including anti-social behaviour, domestic and sexual violence/abuse, drug and alcohol issues, and support for victims and vulnerable groups.

We have also expanded educational outreach and delivered targeted interventions to promote safer neighbourhoods.

Important work also continues with partners to reduce vulnerability in Mid and East Antrim, with Support Hub meetings on a regular basis supporting the most vulnerable people in our Borough.

The PCSP Drugs and Alcohol Steering Group also continues its work to bring a local focus to the vulnerability that arises from Drugs and Alcohol issues, led by our strategic partner ASCERT, alongside a range of other key stakeholders from the statutory and community sectors who bring specialism and expertise to this important area of work.

Domestic and sexual violence continues to be an issue in Mid and East Antrim, and our PCSP continues to resource the Northern Domestic & Sexual Violence and Abuse Partnership to coordinate efforts on these issues locally, alongside other key partners.

This Programme’s success is testament to the continued support of our partnership members, delivery partners, and the communities we serve.

Their commitment and innovation have enabled meaningful engagement, responsive action, and real change at local level.

We wish to acknowledge the work, guidance and support of our fellow PCSP members, and the staff of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council who have assisted the Partnership and everyone who has been involved in making Mid and East Antrim PCSP successful throughout 2024-25.

Furthermore, we extend our thanks and gratitude to our funders from the Joint Committee, the Northern Ireland Policing Board and the Department of Justice, whose ongoing support has been instrumental in enabling us to implement our objectives effectively and strategically.

Looking ahead, the Partnership remains committed to working collaboratively to meet evolving community safety challenges.

We will continue to listen, respond, and invest in partnerships that make Mid and East Antrim a safer and more inclusive place to live, work, and visit.

On behalf of the Mid and East Antrim PCSP, thank you for your continued support and engagement.

Cllr Jackson Minford - Chair, MEA PCSP

Noel Rogan QPM - Vice Chair, MEA PCSP

Executive Summary

Mid and East Antrim Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP) is one of 11 PCSPs in Northern Ireland working to help make communities safer and to ensure that the voices of local people are heard on policing and community safety issues.

The aim of Mid and East Antrim PCSP is to engage and empower communities and to develop solutions in partnership to tackle crime, fear of crime and anti-social behaviour.

The PCSP has demonstrated good progress in 2024–2025, delivering impactful initiatives that have enhanced community safety, tackled Anti-social Behaviour, and helped to build community confidence in the Police Service across the Borough.

Community Safety Initiatives

The PCSP's commitment to community safety is evident through its comprehensive approach, addressing key areas such as anti-social behaviour, substance issues, and domestic and sexual violence.

By establishing three focused working groups, the PCSP has coordinated efforts to tackle these issues, fostering safer environments for residents.

Throughout the work of the Partnership there is a strong focus on addressing vulnerability.

The PCSP also works with those who have been direct victims of crime through delivery of the Four Tier Security initiative.

Tackling Anti-social Behaviour

The Partnership has maintained a strong interagency approach to addressing Anti-social Behaviour (ASB).

This is operationalised on a regular basis through the work of the MEA Anti- social Behaviour Working Group.

A guiding principle of this working group is to provide additional inter-agency support to the PSNI Neighbourhood Police Teams (NPT) in Ballymena and East Antrim as they work to address ASB.

Without the ongoing work of this forum the levels of ASB in Mid and East Antrim would be on a very different trajectory.

Community Engagement and Building Confidence

The PCSP has actively engaged with a wide range of community groups, providing platforms for dialogue and collaboration.

Through programmes like the Agile Local Response Initiative, Council’s DEA Officers have worked alongside the PSNI Neighbourhood Policing Teams in targeted localities to address community safety issues and to build confidence.

This empowers local residents to implement their own community safety projects, fostering a sense of ownership and collective responsibility.

Conclusion

In summary, the efforts of Mid and East Antrim PCSP in 2024–2025 has significantly contributed to reducing anti-social behaviour and improving community safety.

This has been achieved by addressing societal issues, supporting victims, and empowering local groups, the PCSP has made important advances in making Mid and East Antrim a safer Borough.

Policing and Community Safety Partnership