Draft partnership action plan for Falls Park, City Cemetery and Whiterock Leisure Centre

We've worked with community groups and members of the public to create an action plan for Falls Park, City Cemetery and Whiterock Leisure Centre.

It shows what we plan to do to reduce antisocial behaviour (ASB) in the area.


Main issues: Underage drinking, drug and solvent misuse, young people causing a nuisance, damage to properties, misuse of vehicles, theft, mugging, robbery and assault.

Criteria for success: A reduction in the actual number of ASB incidents reported to us or to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).

Aims: To reduce ASB, to cut the number of recorded incidents of criminal damage, to increase the safety and attractiveness of the park and to reduce the impression that ASB is a major problem in the area.

The plan targets five areas:

Education and awareness

Draft partnership action plan for Falls Park, City Cemetery and Whiterock Leisure Centre
What is our aim? How will we achieve it? What will this involve? What outcomes can we expect?
Education and awareness Via meetings with key community and voluntary groups and statutory bodies Taking part in consultation and development meetings

Following up, monitoring and reviewing meetings

Help to identify issues and short and long-term resources

Facilitate a full community consultation
Via public meetings Gathering views from members of the public Assist with the development of draft and final action plans
By developing a leaflet and other material to raise awareness and educate people about ASB Distributing leaflets and other material which includes details of this action plan Raise awareness amongst all park users and community, voluntary and statutory bodies about ASB
By encouraging groups to apply for funding Setting up more environmental programmes and diversionary and educational activities More activities taking place in the park
By making petrol stations more aware of vehicle nuisance Speaking with petrol station managers Help garage owners become more responsible, for example, the sale of fuel to scramblers
By getting schools involved in tackling ASB Co-ordinating schools visits between the ASB co-ordinator and other school liaison officers from external agencies (such as the PSNI) Make primary and secondary pupils more aware of the consequences of ASB

Help young people become more involved in parks and leisure activities


Diversionary activities and programmes

Draft partnership action plan for Falls Park, City Cemetery and Whiterock Leisure Centre
What is our aim? How will we achieve it? What will this involve? What outcomes can we expect?
Diversionary activities and programmes By involving schools in park activities and other education and outreach work Encouraging schools to get involved and take ownership of the park Increase the number of respectful and legitimate park users
Via seasonal events and activities for community groups Organising park-based activities and programmes Deter those taking part in ASB and increase the number of people using the park
Via partnership programmes with other community and voluntary groups Diverting people from taking part in ASB Match activities with the times ASB takes place
By organising activities in and around the park at the times when ASB takes place Setting up programmes which divert people from taking part in ASB

Working with other agencies such as the Ulster Wildlife Trust to provide activities

Encourage those involved in ASB to take part in alternative activities

Provide adequate and good quality activities on a regular basis

More use of sports facilities

Encouraging local sports clubs to use park facilities

Midnight Soccer - a 26 week programme taking place on Friday and Saturday nights in Whiterock Leisure Centre

Orienteering route and Funding for Nature trail in Falls Park and a joint football event between Falls Park and Woodvale Park

Increase in the number of sports clubs using park facilities
Information session between the PSNI, Belfast Education and Library Board (BELB) and the council Sharing information and alternative ways of working Boost understanding of how each agency works
By making staff more visible on the ground Allocating two members of staff to the park from 5pm to 10pm for eight weeks Increase visibility of staff and reassure members of the public
By identifying ways of dealing with public drinking Speaking to those involved in drinking in the park and any relevant agencies The park is no longer being visibly used for drinking during the day


Environment

Draft partnership action plan for Falls Park, City Cemetery and Whiterock Leisure Centre
What is our aim? How will we achieve it? What will this involve? What outcomes can we expect?
Environment By using Design Out Crime recommendations compiled by the PSNI Crime Prevention Team Implementing the recommendations through full consultation with the community Redesign of the park to reduce ASB
Graffiti removal Removing graffiti by 11am on the morning it appears Ensuring facilities stay clean and attractive


Application of park bye-laws

Draft partnership action plan for Falls Park, City Cemetery and Whiterock Leisure Centre
What is our aim? How will we achieve it? What will this involve? What outcomes can we expect?
Application of park bye-laws Review of park bye-laws Consulting with our Legal Services Department Making sure park bye-laws are up to date, relevant and easier to read
New signage needed throughout the park Sending new signs to Plain English Campaign

Erecting new signs 		Making bye-laws easier to understand for all age groups

Allowing staff to highlight bye-laws to park users
Training for Park Ranger Service

Introduce new uniform 		Developing report writing skills

Highlighting personal safety and how to approach young people

Consulting with park rangers and managers 		Producing a motivated Park Ranger Service

Increasing the visibility of park rangers
Better park ranger presence Staff becoming more visible on the ground Deterring ASB and making the park feel safer


Enforcement

Draft partnership action plan for Falls Park, City Cemetery and Whiterock Leisure Centre
Aim Actions Output Outcomes
Enforcement Regular joint exercises with the council and the PSNI on agreed dates

Co-ordinated bye-law enforcement and operations		 Handing out leaflets, confiscating alcohol and creating a high-visibility presence at off-licences in partnership with the Get Home Safe project, our Regulatory Services team, Park Ranger Service and PSNI Deterring underage young people from buying alcohol from off-licences

Deterring adults from buying alcohol for young people

Preventing large crowds from gathering and reducing the potential risk of ASB

Building relationships between the council and PSNI
Incident reporting for staff and police Setting up new forms and systems to accurately capture the number and nature of antisocial incidents Sending out warning letters and antisocial behaviour contracts (ABCs)
Further action taken where necessary - for example, by enforcing park bye-laws or via ASB Forums Prosecuting offenders through our Legal Services Department, PSNI or ASB Forums

Use information to send warning letters and decide on ABCs or antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) 		Increasing the level of prosecutions taken

Implementing interventions in line with ASBO laws
Dedicated police resource for parks during summer 2008 Allocating neighbourhood teams to parks on certain dates and times

Work with park rangers to co-ordinate visibility in hotspots

Reporting all ASB incidents to our ASB co-ordinator 		Increasing the visibility of agencies working to reduce ASB