By Alan Healy
Deputy Editor
THE PSNI is to increase its patrols at a park in Derry during periods of good weather in a bid to curb large groups of youths engaging in anti-social behaviour.
The move comes after an incident in St Columb’s Park in the Waterside area at the weekend where police were called into deal with a group of around 100 young people who had gathered at the site.
The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) was then called to attend to one person.
The PSNI said that it ‘monitored’ the situation for the duration of the evening, adding that the park was ‘cleared and quiet by 11.15pm.’
No arrests were made.
However, in the wake of the PSNI’s statement, a Waterside DUP councillor claimed that the area has been ‘overrun with drunken young people’, adding that both the police and wardens from Derry City and Strabane District Council could not deal with the situation due to the large numbers of youths.
Alderman David Ramsey also warned that if the issue was nor addressed prior to the onset of the summer months, residents living around the park would be staging protests.
In a statement issued to the Derry News yesterday, PSNI Neighbourhood Inspector William Calderwood said that users of the park could expect to see a police presence in the area ‘every weekend’.
He added that police would also boost their patrols at St Columb’s Park during periods of good weather and ‘key holidays’.
Increase
“The patrolling of the park falls under our regular duties and park users will continue to see a police presence every weekend,” he said.
“Certainly during periods of good weather and key holiday dates our resourcing of these patrols will increase appropriately.”
Inspector Calderwood continued that it was important to encourage people use the park abnd convey the message that it is a ‘shared space’. “I think it’s important to get out the message, and I know our partners will agree, that we want to encourage people to use the park,” he added.
“What no one wants to see is the experience being ruined by a minority who use the park to drink and cause hassle.
"A big group of young people does not necessarily mean there is anything anti-social taking place, but we are prepared to deal with anyone who is breaking the law.”
If you have a story or want to send a photo or video to us please contact the Derry Now editorial team on 028 7129 6600 for Derry City stories Or 028 7774 3970 for County Derry stories. Or you can email editor@derrynews.net at any time.