DPP meeting held despite threats

The meeting went ahead despite the threats

A meeting of Newry and Mourne District Policing Partnership has been held as scheduled in spite of threats.

Mass cards and bullets were sent in the post to members of Newtownhamilton Community Association on Monday morning.

The meeting was held in Newtownhamilton Community Centre.

The police district commander for the area, Bobby Hunniford, said that members of the DPP were not going to be intimidated.

Mr Hunniford said although the threats were disappointing, they made the partnership more determined than ever to go ahead with the meetings.

"It is a very small number of people that want to try and exert influence to stop this progress happening," he said.

"But they are not going to stop it happening. These meetings will take place and we will ensure they will take place, working in partnership with the DPP members.

"That is vital - that we are here and that our progress is being monitored and that I am able to highlight the issues that we are working on, as police, in this district."

Members of the Policing Board were also at the meeting to show their support.

'Bully Boys'

Earlier, Ulster Unionist Danny Kennedy, the DPP chairman, condemned the threats as "bully boy tactics".

"Those who think they can halt the business of dealing with local policing issues must learn that their bully boy tactics will not deflect us from this important work which benefits all sections of the community."

SDLP assembly member Dominic Bradley said the "faceless cowards" behind the threats "must realise that they have no support amongst the wider community".

"Their cowardice stands in stark contrast to the bravery of those who are driving forward the new beginning to policing across the north," he added.

Ammunition

Last year, there were several arson attacks and intimidation directed against Catholic members of the partnerships.

District policing partnerships were set up across Northern Ireland under reforms initiated by a commission headed by former Hong Kong Governor Chris Patten and implemented by the government.

They fall under the auspices of the Northern Ireland Policing Board which handles some of the most sensitive issues facing policing.

District policing partnerships are made up of councillors and members of the local community, who work alongside the Police Service of Northern Ireland's 29 District Command Units in trying to meet local community policing needs.