Committee set up to stop anti-social behaviour in Bessbrook

by
Micheal McKenna
November 21, 2014

A new committee has been set up in response to the growing number of incidents of anti-social behaviour in Bessbrook.

Consisting of representatives of all housing development in the village, it will stage its first meeting at the start of December.

It comes just days after the latest incident, when the long-established family-owned Griffiths furniture store was broken into and vandalised.

Sadly that was not an isolated incident and the new committee was formed off the back of the latest public meeting in Bessbrook, which local Councillor Roisin Mulgrew said discussed the “escalation of serious anti-social and criminal activity in the village”.

The Sinn Fein representative described the meeting as “positive and encouraging”.

Cllr Mulgrew said: “In response to growing concerns expressed by many Bessbrook residents and businesses, I invited the Housing Executive, the PSNI, CRJ, PCSP, Clanmil Housing Association and fellow councillors to attend a public meeting to discuss, in an open and frank manner, the genuine concerns raised.

“Conversations took place about issues such as the responsibility of private landlords, not only to their prospective tenant, but also to the community, responses to the rise of anti-social behaviour and tackling serious criminal activity in the area.

“As a result of an extremely positive and productive meeting, a committee of representatives from all of the housing developments throughout the village was selected to come together to work with the statutory bodies and to continue to highlight the concerns of locals.”

The councillor thanked all who attended the meeting in Bessbrook Community Centre this week and added: “Bessbrook is a very beautiful and historic village and the community is determined to work together to ensure that it is a secure and safe environment to be enjoyed by all sections of the population.

“A meeting of the new committee will take place at the start of December.”