By Michele Canning Smith
CLERGY accompanying police patrols on the streets of Strabane may well be a novel idea but it will help to 'open up' policing within the community.
That's the view of one of Strabane's police chiefs who has launched a new initiative 'Faith in Policing' which aims to develop an ongoing and dedicated relationship between police and the clergy.
The scheme which has been adopted by all the faiths in the area was launched in Strabane on Thursday at a breakfast.
However, it is one of the most progressive elements of the scheme that has stirred up some controversy, that of clergy patrolling the streets with local PSNI officers.
The Chronicle spoke with the police commander who has spearheaded the initiative and asked him the whys and wherefores of the scheme.
The scheme will work in three main areas. First, it will involve regular open meetings/workshops with clergy to discuss community concerns and seek views on how they can be resolved. Police will also provide briefings on local operations and information on crime trends and ways to prevent them.
The next element will be the publication of an E-Newsletter that will be sent to clergy for distribution to congregations via parish magazines and as individual publications. These will include information on local crime issues, policing projects and contact details for officers in the district.
The final, most progressive and the most contentious element yet is the proposal to appoint local clergy as Police Chaplains to their local stations across the district on a voluntary basis.
Whilst the chaplaincy is not in contention it is the envisaged roles that they may have - the most controversial being that of going on patrol with officers.
That move has met with cynicism in some quarters and hasn't exactly been embraced with open arms by some members of the clergy.
Inspector Dodds, Sector Commander for Strabane Rural has refuted that the move is a gimmick, saying that it is aimed at opening up policing to the community, making it more accountable and transparent.
"When I was in England the Metropolitan police started a scheme like this and yes it was slow to get off at the beginning. In fact it was not a dissimilar situation to Strabane. But we asked the local clergy to come out and see how policing works. It kicked off quite well.
"What this would entail would be a member of the local clergy coming out with myself and another police officer in a patrol car, purely in an observational role.
"This could encompass anything from going with a patrol, obviously not the first response car, from anything to an assault to a car accident. What was interesting is that one clergyman said to me that before he got involve in the scheme he had a 12 hour view of his parish but afterwards he had a 24 hour view and it had helped him in his Ministry.
"This is the first time that this Faith in policing initiative has been done here. It is not a gimmick, not a stunt, it is aimed at opening up ourselves to the community. I is a sign of Strabane becoming normalised.
"The clergy has been broadly supportive of many of the elements of the scheme and we were very pleased wit the turnout at last week's launch."
Among those present at the event were Rev Dr John Finlay, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and Rt Rev Ken Good, Church of Ireland Bishop of Derry and Raphoe. The Catholic Bishop of Derry, Dr Seamus Hegarty was also represented.
The Inspector said he didn't feel clergy going on patrol would challenge their independence, a concern raised by community activist Paul Gallagher.
"I would take the opposite view because the clergy are independent we want to work with them, not use them. We are working on the broad brush and on the future of policing.
"These are people of great integrity, character and we want them to help shape the future of Strabane.
'A priest or minister knows more about the parish than most. It's about giving them their place. I am of the traditional Irish view that the policeman, the priest, the headmaster are role models for the community.
"I recognise that people have fears but I am willing to meet anyone on this issue. I am trying to make Strabane policing responsive."
