BY MICHAEL BRESLIN
Certain types of crime have risen alarmingly in County Fermanagh over the past six months, among them criminal damage and theft and, to make matters worse, there is a reluctance on the part of people who know who the criminals are to come forward and assist the Police.
For that, and other reasons, the crime detection rate in the county, and in 'F' District generally, has slumped in that period by 12 per cent, from a 32.2 clearance rate at the end of March this year to 20.2 by the end of September.
The six monthly figures released this week show that Fermanagh has suffered, disproportionately, more thefts and damage to property than the other four Council areas which make up the PSNI's 'F' District. In the rest of "F" District, Cookstown, Dungannon & South Tyrone, and Omagh, crime fell by 5.6 per cent.
The freshly-released statistics present an ongoing headache for Chief Inspector Alywin Barton, the PSNI's area commander.
"What concerns me", he said, " is the increase in criminal damage to property. We had 49 more incidents compared with the previous year, and thefts, which rose by 31. In terms of the criminal damage, I believe this is a problem often exacerbated by overindulgence in alcohol, and there is a clear need for some in our community to show greater self-control.
"People in the community can help us by reporting crime and giving us the information we need to bring criminals to justice. Combating crime is not something that the police alone can do. It needs the support of everyone."
Chief Inspector Barton suggested that the broad figures masked some successes: "There were", he noted, " positives during the six-month period: the total number of violent crimes fell by 3.9 per cent, and that means there were fewer victims of assault and fewer victims of sexual offences.
"The number of drugs possession offences recorded increased, by 69 per cent, but I believe that can at least partly be explained by a closer focus by Police on these crimes, and that is a focus we will maintain".
On the debit side, the rise in criminal damage, where he believed an overindulgence in alcohol played a part, and theft, Mr Barton told the 'Herald' there had been what he called, 'a significant campaign' of theft of copper and lead for the lucrative export trade to, for instance, China at the start of the financial year.
"There was a spate of such crime in a few areas of Enniskillen, and there were a lot of victims. The thefts were largely from NI Housing Executive properties, and it wasn't a victim-less crime because people were living in those houses and, come the rain, their homes were flooded.
"Equally so, the taxpayer is also a victim in that we pay our taxes towards public bodies, such as the Housing Executive".
As already noted, the crime clearance rate across 'F' District dropped in those six months since April, from 32.2 per cent to 20.2 per cent.
Chief Inspector Barton attributed that to a number of factors here in Fermanagh, namely a variation in Home Office rules as regards clearing crime, the relative scarcity of cctv, and the reluctance by people who know to blow the whistle.
"There are people who know who is doing these things, but they are not prepared to hold these people to account and, instead, they're prepared to allow themselves and their neighbours to become victims of crime.
"The question I would put", Mr Barton went on, "is: why should the bully get away worth it? The clearance rate will rise if we could get more help and support. I accept there is work to be done on crime clearance, and we hope to continue to play our part and apply as much effort as humanly possibly to improve the crime clearance rate".
In 'F' district itself, for the period, April 1 to September 30 this year, 288 fewer crimes were reported. The total number of crimes recorded was 4,888, down from 5,176 for the same period last year. However, the clearance rate has also dropped, from 32.2 per cent to 20.2 per cent.
Commenting on the six-monthly figures, Chief Superintendent Michael Skuce, the F District Commander said: "While I welcome the fact that there were fewer victims of crime in the area compared to the same period last year, there is still a lot of work to be done in bringing more people before the courts. This is something we are determined to do over the next six months. It is a major policing priority".
Mr Skuce acknowledged that the community within 'F' district wanted to see crime reduced, more offenders being brought to justice and positive experiences with the police.
"I believe'", he stated, " we have delivered in all three areas, and we are also striving as an organisation to improve the clearance rates - although we do accept this is a topic on which more needs to be achieved - and, finally, bring more people before the courts.
"We will continue to work alongside the community in tackling all crime and key concerns, such as anti-social behaviour. The more support we have the more we can do".
The District Commander paid tribute to the work of the District Policing Partnerships, the Community Police Liaison Committees, political and community representatives and local Councils that have worked alongside police to make communities safer for everyone.
He insisted that the six monthly statistics were, ' extremely positive', to a degree, he hoped, that would go some way to reassuring members of the community of what the PSNI were doing to tackle crime in the area.
"However", he conceded, " we understand and appreciate that the fear of crime is a real issue for communities. But, I can assure them that, in "F" District, high visibility and community based policing is at the very core of everything we do.
"The restructuring of four areas into the new F District", he explained, " has allowed me to use all of my resources, officers, funding, buildings and equipment, in the most effective way. We have been able to deliver on reduced crime, but we also have to be realistic.
"Crime rates can go up as well as down. But, I am convinced that if we continue to work with local people we can make F District safer for everyone."
The reduction in the number of reported crimes is in line with the overall fall in crime across Northern Ireland, 15.2%, or 9,645 fewer crimes.
