Teams of specially trained police officers have been set up throughout Northern Ireland to tackle offences relating to vulnerable people in the community.
Each of the Police Service's eight districts will have its own team of officers. Those in F District will cover the Fermanagh, Omagh, Cookstown and Dungannon/South Tyrone areas.
The District Personal Protection Unit (PPU will tackle child abuse and domestic abuse; respond to reports of vulnerable and missing people; and manage violent and sexual offenders in the community.
Chief Superintendent Michael Skuce, the 'F' District Commander said the new groupings would draw together a team of specially trained police officers managed at local level to detect, investigate and prevent crimes.
He explained: "The Public Protection Unit marks a significant boost to services to local communities by providing protection to the most vulnerable people in society.
"There is clear evidence that there are links between domestic abuse and child abuse. The PPU will allow for early intervention and seek to identify links between cases, victims and offenders.
"An important part of the work will be to identify and share intelligence within a dedicated team. The team will bring together specialist skills to draw complete pictures where, in the past, there have been gaps or blind spots. This brings us into line with best practice in England and Wales".
Public protection, in its entirety, will come under his control as District Commander and, in F District, it will be led by D/Insp Brian Foster, supported by a team of 14 officers. These will include specialist child protection detectives who have transferred to local districts from the Police Service's Crime Operations Department.
"The PPU", Chief Superintendent Skuce added, " will work closely with the other main arms of local policing – neighbourhood, response and community safety. It will also engage with a range of bodies in the public, private and voluntary sectors.
"The PPU exists to protect victims and the broader communities. By working closely with local people, police in 'F' District Public Protection Unit will seek to make local communities safer and feel safer."
A PSNI spokesman said domestic abuse and violence was a scourge in society. Specially trained Domestic Violence Officers will be attached to each PPU Intervention Unit, and prevention will be the cornerstones of the general approach.
The category, 'vulnerable and missing persons' includes those with physical or learning disabilities and older people who are subjected to physical or sexual abuse, or are exploited. PPU officers with specialist interview skills will use these to give confidence to victims of crime to report cases of abuse.
As regards the management of violent and sexual offenders in the community, the PSNI spokesman stated that, in Northern Ireland, police had a significant role in the management of sex offenders. "Police officers who manage sexual offenders will be attached to PPUs to ensure links are made, and steps are taken to ensure sexual offenders are monitored effectively."
