By Conor Sharkey
IT is "highly unlikely" that Strabane PSNI Station will be down sized under a review of military estates currently being carried out across Northern Ireland.
The first in a series of public meetings on the future of police buildings was held in Enniskillen on Monday, when proposals to shut a number of stations were outlined.
Plans for G District, which encompasses Strabane, Foyle, Limavady and Magherafelt, have yet to be unveiled, however District Commander, Chief Superintendent David Hanna has confirmed that full public consultation will take place before any announcement.
The review of police estates comes on the back of recently announced budget cuts and the continuing reduction in the number of troops station across the North.
And while questions over the future of rural policing posts in areas such as Donemana remain, the Strabane Chronicle has learnt that Strabane's main station will almost certainly remain.
Speaking yesterday (Wednesday) to the Chronicle, a source said he would be "very surprised" if the Bowling Green compound was reduced.
"I very much doubt it Strabane will be reduced any time soon. There are around 100 officers working there and while it looks like a big station, it is all totally utilised.
"As time goes on, other smaller rural stations will be reviewed and Strabane will become much more of a centre point for policing across the District. So, I would be very surprised if it was reduced in size.
"On top of that it would be an administrative nightmare to even consider down sizing it. It took two years to close Sion Mills station, even though it was rendered unsafe a long time ago. There is a long process to go through when considering closing or reducing a station and that would make it even less likely that the future of Strabane will be reviewed," he said.
But Sinn Fein MP Pat Doherty believes the site needs to be made more welcoming.
"I would like to see it totally demilitarised. If they want to arrive at a situation whereby people do not perceive the PSNI as a police force but a police service that is there to serve the entire community, they have to get away from these heavily fortified and militarised sites.
"Strabane and Castlederg police stations are just blots on the landscape, probably more so Castlederg. It's a monstrosity and I would like to see both sites made much more community friendly."
under this review," Mr Doherty said.
