Anti-social behaviour impacting people living and working in Derry city centre - PSNI

The Housing Executive has described as “totally inaccurate” claims anti-social behaviour in Derry city centre is being caused by people from outside the city being placed in emergency accommodation here.

A spokesperson for the organisation told The Derry News: “Currently, only a very small number of placements have been made in the north-west for those not originally from the area – none of these placements have any additional support needs.

However, acknowledging the ongoing problem with on-street drinking and anti-social behaviour in Victoria Market, Sackville Street, Strand Road and Waterloo Place, PSNI Derry City and Strabane Chief Inspector Michael Gahan said he knew these issues were “impacting on traders, and also on people working and living in these areas”.

The emergency accommodation claim was made by Aontú representative Emmet Doyle, who called on the Housing Executive and the PSNI to “address problems being caused by groups of people drinking, taking drugs and engaging in violence in the city centre”.

“[They] are not from the city and have likely been placed here by the Housing Executive in Belfast because their local emergency accommodation will not accept them,” said Mr Doyle.

“I have said now multiple times that this city is not a dumping ground for the problems of other areas like Belfast, yet I am receiving more and more calls about the behaviour of people drinking, taking drugs and fighting in full view of the public in broad daylight in the City centre,” he added.

“Scenes outside Sumra House of fighting during the week, coupled with women working in the area being harassed by drunk men in and around Victoria Car Park and the laneway between there and the BT building are totally unacceptable and need to be urgently addressed before someone is seriously hurt.

“I know there are members of the police and the Housing Executive who are as frustrated as I am, having spoken to them, but there is now an onus on both organisations to put in place a zero tolerance policy for those who come to this city and abuse it and its people - the official line from the Housing Executive that they have a duty to provide accommodation doesn't mean Derry should be constantly be the destination for those with either vulnerabilities or addictions - I know that in many cases the local HE office are only informed on a Monday when the Belfast office place people here over the weekend - it must stop.

“I've raised this again today with senior police officers and I am becoming more and more concerned that local authorities are not taking this issue seriously.  I am convinced something terrible is going to happen if we do not address this problem now and send the message that Derry is not a dumping ground,” said Mr Doyle.

Refuting Mr Doyle’s claims, a Housing Executive spokesperson told The Derry News: “It is totally inaccurate to state we are placing households in Derry who have been refused access to accommodation elsewhere.

End of an era for Derry’s only skatepark

CLOSURE: DC Skatepark has closed its doors for the last time

Police investigate suspected deliberate fire on former Foyle College site in Derry

Duncreggan Road has since reopened

“The vast majority of our temporary accommodation placements in the city are those who are from the area in need of homeless support.

“Currently, only a very small number of placements have been made in the north-west for those not originally from the area – none of these placements have any additional support needs.

“As with all these placements, they will be short in timeframe and households will be relocated as soon as accommodation is available in their areas of choice.

“We have no reports of any outstanding anti-social issues relating to anyone we have placed in temporary, emergency accommodation in the north west area.

“As always, we welcome the opportunity to work with interested representatives and stakeholders in the city to provide accurate information about our ongoing work to address and prevent homelessness and find solutions together,” said the Housing Executive spokesperson.

The PSNI said there were  anti-social behaviour “issues, periodically in and around our city centre”.

Derry City and Strabane Chief Inspector Michael Gahan said: "We know there are issues periodically in and around our city centre, specifically in relation to on-street drinking and anti-social behaviour in areas including Victoria Market/ Sackville Street, Strand Road and Waterloo Place.

“We know these issues are impacting on traders, and also on people working and living in these areas.
 

"Where there are offences reported, that police can deal with and respond to, we will take action.

"We work with partners on a continual basis to respond to issues that arise, and often our officers will attend calls with partners to support them.

“These can be issues where there is a high level of vulnerability; issues that are often complex and which require a multi-agency response as no agency can deal with them in isolation. 

“We will continue to work with and support partners to address these issues, while our officers are committed to providing a visible policing presence in the city. Reporting crimes, or incidents that impact on a person’s quality of life helps focus our patrols where they are needed and so we can take positive action.” 

To make a report to police, call 101, report online at www.psni.police.uk/makea report or speak directly to your Neighbourhood Team. Always 999 in an emergency.