Draft partnership action plan for Ormeau Park, Indoor Tennis Arena and Ozone Complex and Cherryvale Playing Fields

We've worked with community groups and members of the public to create an action plan for Ormeau Park, Indoor Tennis Arena and Ozone Complex and Cherryvale Playing Fields.

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


Main issues: Underage drinking, damage to properties and young people causing a nuisance.

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 Ormeau Park, Indoor Tennis Centre and Ozone Complex and Cherryvale Playing Fields
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 three consultation meetings

Following up, monitoring and reviewing meetings

Help to identify issues and resources

Put short-term actions in place which will eventually lead to a long-term development plan

Via public meetings One public meeting Facilitate a full community consultation which will identify key issues

Help to develop 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 organising events which raise awareness of prejudice and ASB as part of the South Belfast Festival Organising events for families and young people Raise awareness of ASB and increase the number of people who use the park


Diversionary activities and programmes

Draft partnership action plan for Ormeau Park, Indoor Tennis Centre and Ozone Complex and Cherryvale Playing Fields
What is our aim? How will we achieve it? What will this involve? What outcomes can we expect?
Diversionary activities and programmes By organising tree planting for schools Encouraging schools to get involved and take ownership of the park Increase the number of respectful and legitimate park users
By encouraging Friends of Ormeau Park events Organising activities and programmes to increase the number of people using the park Increase the number of respectful and legitimate park users

Act as a deterrent to those taking part in ASB
By encouraging sports clubs to use available facilities Setting up a diversionary programme for young people using the facilities at Indoor Tennis Arena and Ozone Complex Match activities with the times ASB takes place
Via partnership programmes with other community and voluntary groups Diverting people from taking part in ASB

'Join up' work already taking place in Avoniel/Ormeau area 		 
Involvement from Belfast Education and Library Board (BELB), Bridge Community Association and other groups Encouraging young people to participate in activities and respect both other people and the Ormeau area

Funding the use of facilities in the Indoor Tennis Arena and Ozone Complex for a group of detached youths working with BELB in the neighbouring Orangefield and Belmont areas 		Engage with those taking part in ASB and get 'buy in' from both communities
Deterring the collection of wood and building of bonfires in Ormeau Park Meetings with young people to discuss alternative ways they can spend their time

Developing a programme for bonfire diversion over 11 and 12 July 		Divert young people from interface area around 12 July



Environment

Draft partnership action plan for Ormeau Park, Indoor Tennis Centre and Ozone Complex and Cherryvale Playing Fields
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
Supporting older adults who regularly drink in the park Providing information on alcohol support groups Removing groups who drink alcohol in the park with help from the Simon Community
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 Ormeau Park, Indoor Tennis Centre and Ozone Complex and Cherryvale Playing Fields
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 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 and addressing any other needs Developing report writing skills

Highlighting personal safety and how to approach young people
Producing a motivated Park Ranger Service


Enforcement

Draft partnership action plan for Ormeau Park, Indoor Tennis Centre and Ozone Complex and Cherryvale Playing Fields
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
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 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