Criminal Damage
Case Study: Peer Leadership Programme
Lead agency: Ballymoney District Command Unit (Northern Ireland)
Partners: Education Board, Youth Services Department, Ballymoney District Policing Partnership, Coleraine Rural and Urban Network and Dalriada School.
Location: Ballymoney town, North Antrim, Northern Ireland
Dates: June 2005 onwards
Summary: Ballymoney town suffered a high level of criminal damage. Analysis on a street by street basis indicated that damage was occurring in an area where young people congregated. Some of the damage appeared to be associated with underage drinking. With the involvement of key partners, a peer leadership programme was established. In addition high visibility policing was established in hotspot locations. Criminal damage in the targeted area decreased by 54%.
The problem
- Criminal damage accounted for 32% of all crime in Ballymoney in 2004/05 and had been the highest volume crime in the district for some time. Hotspot analysis established that 79% of reported criminal damage occurred in Ballymoney town. Analysis on a street-by-street basis indicated that a substantial proportion of criminal damage occurred at the lower end containing a number of youth clubs where young people congregated. Most damage occurred at the weekend. Residential dwellings were the most vulnerable property type, but vehicles, businesses and schools were also targeted. Two of the schools that had suffered damage were located in the hotspot area.
- Virtually all those detected for criminal damage were male and alcohol was a factor on a number of occasions. Most damage was caused using a stone or brick. Back to top
Action taken
- As the analysis identified that criminal damage was occurring in areas where young people congregated, the partners sought to engage with young people to tackle the problem. An accredited peer leadership programme was established by local partners. Twelve young people, representing a cross section of the community, signed up for the programme. Topics included leadership, group work, team building, communication skills, organising events - including planning and budgeting, development and implementation of programmes, prejudice awareness, child protection and researching youth organisation. In addition a four day study tour to Stoke-on-Trent provided participants with an opportunity to examine good practice in established anti-social behaviour projects. As a direct result of the programme, some of the young people started up a youth club known as ‘The ZONE' which meets every Friday in Ballymoney.
- Operation Complete was introduced on a seasonal basis to target youths causing annoyance and anti-social behaviour and to increase public confidence through high visibility policing. Crime pattern analysis provided hotspot locations and specific times for deployment of resources. Action was directed against those committing offences of criminal damage, disorderly behaviour, underage drinking and consumption of alcohol in designated non-drinking zones. This operation then developed into targeted high visibility policing on a weekly basis.
- The school liaison officer delivered a programme to schools in the district, focusing on vandalism and the consequences of such activity.
- The crime prevention officer worked with the local education board to enhance the physical security of those schools in the hotspot location.
- Ballymoney police started a weekly press briefing, with information appeals and good news stories. Back to top
What happened as a result?
- Criminal damage in the lower end of Ballymoney town decreased by 54%. Reported incidents of young people causing annoyance increased, but this can be attributed to better reporting by the local community and increased confidence in the police.
- There are sixty members and eight young peer leaders on the membership committee of ‘The ZONE' youth club. Back to top
What made it work?
- The intervention programme was creative and thoroughly investigated. It was attractive to the young people because of the accredited qualification. The young people who participated were carefully selected and allowed to examine their own potential at their own pace. Back to top
Last update: Thursday, June 28, 2007
